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A  Key  to  the  Disunion   Conspiracy. 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER. 


BY    BEVERLY     TUCKER, 

OF    VIRGINIA. 


Secretly  Fruited  in  Washington  (in  the  year  1836)  by  DUFF 
GREEN,  for  Circulation  in  the  Southern  States. 


BUT    AFTERWARDS    SUPPRESSED. 


NEW    YORK  I 

REPRINTED    BY    RUDD    &    CARLETON. 
M  DCCC  LXI. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1861,  by 
RUDD   &  CAKLETON, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Souther* 
District  of  New  York. 


B.    CKAIGHKAD, 

Printer,  Stereotyper,  ami  Elecirotyper, 

(Carton  JSutHring, 

$1,  83,  and  85  Centre  Street, 


EXPLANATORY  INTRODUCTION. 


THE  reader*  will  learn  from  the  following  pages  that  the  fratricidal 
contest  into  which  our  country  has  been  led  is  not  a  thing  of  chance, 
but  of  deliberate  design,  and  that  it  has  been  gradually  preparing  for 
almost  thirty  years.  The  dark  plotters  of  South  Carolina  and  Virgi 
nia,  who  in  1832  and  1833  were  defeated  in  their  nullification  and 
disunion  schemes  by  the  fidelity  and  decision  of  Jackson,  though 
abashed  and  discomfited,  did  not  relinquish  their  purpose,  notwith 
standing  they  changed  their  plans.  At  first  they  resolved  on  organiz 
ing  a  direct  resistance  to  the  Federal  authority  throughout  the  South 
as  soon  as  the  "Southern  heart"  could  be  "fired"  for  that  purpose; 
but,  fearing  a  second  reverse  from  the  popularity  of  the  Democratic 
party,  they  veered  from  a  policy  of  open  assault  against  that  party  and 
the  Union,  to  one  of  sapping  and  mining  both.  Hence  Mr.  Calhoun 
and  his  secession  allies,  in  1837,  joined  the  Democratic  party,  that  from 
1833  to  1836  they  had  hated  and  denounced.  By  little  and  little  the 
Secessionists,  after  having  attained  admission  to  its  counsels,  modified 
the  policy  of  the  party,  continually  changing  it  more  and  more  in 
conformity  with  their  own  ideas.  Thus  it  was  in  pursuit  of  aims,  purely 
Southern  and  sectional,  that  the  Mexican  province  of  Texas  was 
overrun  and  conquered  by  American  adventurers  in  1835  and  1836; 
that  Texas  was  annexed  in  1845 ;  and  that  the  war  with  Mexico  was 
inaugurated.  It  was  to  subserve  Southern,  and  eventually  Disunion, 
purposes  that  the  Missouri  Compromise  was  repealed,  and  all  the  evil 
enginery  of  Lecomptonism  put  into  operation.  It  was  to  further  the 
accursed  cause  of  national  disruption  that  just  such  a  Cabinet  as  that 
of  Buchanan  was  gathered  up,  whereby  the  army  might  be  dispersed, 
the  navy  scattered,  and  the  national  treasury  plundered  and  bank- 


-8    .•— '  f^  S~\ 


vi  Explanatory  Introduction. 

rupted — so  that  Secession  might  march  unmolested  over  the  prostrate 
form  of  our  noble  Government.  The  one  purpose  of  disunion  has 
been  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time  the  animating  principle  of  State 
rights'  policy,  since  Calhoun  and  his  adherents  stealthily  wormed 
themselves  into  the  citadel  of  the  Democracy.  Even  so  apparently 
insignificant  a  matter  as  the  repair  and  return  of  the  English  ship 
Resolute  to  the  British  Government,  was  undoubtedly  due  to  the 
anxiety  of  the  Southern  Confederates  to  conciliate  the  good  will 
of  England,  and  secure  for  them  her  future  alliance.  The  Secession- 
nists  courted  and  used  the  Democratic  party  from  1837  to  1860,  and 
in  the  latter  year,  at  Charleston,  having  no  further  use  for  that  organi 
zation,  ruthlessly  rent  it  asunder.  Without  dispute  our  country  is 
suffering  from  the  effects  of  a  conspiracy  unparalleled  in  its  nature 
and  extent  in  the  history  of  mankind.  In  comparison  with  it  the 
conspiracy  of  Catiline  and  Cethegus  in  ancient  Rome  fades  into  mean 
ness  and  insignificance.  The  American  conspiracy  is  now  and  may 
ever  continue  its  own  only  parallel. 

In  addition  to  the  testimony  furnished  by  the  past  history  and  pre 
sent  circumstances  of  the  country,  in  proof  of  the  above  positions,  there 
is  happily  a  piece  of  irresistible  evidence  supplied  us  in  the  pages  of  a 
most  remarkable  work  written  and  secretly  printed  in  the  years  1835 
and  183G,  in  which  nearly  every  important  point  of  the  great  conspi 
racy  which  is  developing  itself  in  our  own  immediate  day,  stands  dis 
tinctly  shadowed  forth.  Composed  in  the  form  of  a  novel,  its  twin 
object  was  to  excite  the  South  to  rebellion,  and  to  teach  how  to  make 
that  rebellion  successful.  It  was  "  a  tale  of  the  future,"  and  most 
wonderfully  is  that  "  future"  fulfilling  its  predictions.  Indeed,  the 
Jeff.  Davises,  Tanceys,  Pryors,  Rhetts,  Letchers,  etc.,  seem  to  have 
done  little  else  than  servilely  to. follow  out  the  programme  sketched 
for  them  in  this  remarkable  book.  Its  author,  Professor  BEVERLY 
TUCKER,  of  William  and  Mary  College,  Virginia,  and  but  recently 
deceased,  was  one  of  the  most  trusted  friends  and  devoted  partisans 
of  Mr.  Calhoun,  and  had  he  lived  till  to-day,  would  have  witnessed  no 
feeble  promise  of  the  complete  fulfilment  of  his  own  prophecies.  The 
circumstances  under  which  "  The  Partisan  Leader"  was  ushered  into 
existence  sufficiently  indicate  its  object  and  character.  The  manu 
script  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Calhoun's  connexion  and  con- 


Explanatory  Introduction.  vii 

fidant,  DUFF  GREEN,  then  proprietor  of  the  "Telegraph,"  published  in 
Washington  City.  It  was  accordingly  printed  in  Green's  office  on 
"  Capitol  Hill,"  but  with  a  fictitious  imprint,  and  a  false  date  of  twenty 
years  in  advance,  because,  as  is  known  from  the  best  living  testimony, 
Green  confessed  the  book  to  be  "Treason."  "When  the  "Partisan 
Leader"  was  commenced  in  1836,  it  was  the  intention  of  its  author  to 
make  it  a  serial,  to  be  issued  at  frequent  intervals  or  until  the  whole 
South  should  have  become  impregnated  with  disunion.  But  only  two 
parts  were  printed  and  distributed,  because  after  the  election  of  Mr. 
Van  Buren  in  November  1836,  the  Secession  leaders  had  resolved 
upon  a  change  of  programme  from  open  opposition  to  the  Democracy, 
to  a  close  but  treacherous  connexion  with  it.  This  was  effected  under 
color  of  a  great  admiration  for  the  sub-treasury  feature  in  the  Jackson- 
Van  Buren  policy;  at  all  events  Mr.  Calhoun  and  his  friends  thence 
forward  held  foremost  seats  in  the  Democratic  synagogue. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  revolution  thus  skilfully  projected  in  the 
Partisan  Leader  is  nowhere  in  the  whole  book  sought  to  be  justified 
on  the  grounds  of  alleged  aggressions  by  the  North  in  respect  to  slav 
ery.  Like  the  abettors  of  secession  on  the  floors  of  Congress,  Pro 
fessor  Tucker  seems  to  have  been  unable  to  make  out  the  semblance 
of  a  good  case.  After  the  merest  allusion  to  the  grounds  for  dissolu 
tion,  he  says  in  one  of  the  pages  of  this  book — 

"  If  any  farther  account  of  the  causes  of  the  rebellion  be  required,  7 
have  none  to  give.  It  was  through  the  eyes  and  hearts  of  the  South 
that  conviction  entered.  Outrage  to  the  laws ;  outrage  to  the  freedom 
of  elections ;  outrage  to  one  respected  and  beloved  (Mr.  Calhoun),  left 
nothing  for  reason  to  do." 

It  was  in  the  administration  of  General  Jackson  that  the  Partisan 
Leader  found  or  made  motives  for  the  disruption  of  the  Confederacy. 
Negro  slavery  had  not  then,  nor  has  it  now,  any  necessary  connexion 
with  that  design. 

"We  close  this  introduction  by  appending  a  quotation  from  an  edito 
rial  article  in  the  National  Intelligencer  of  January  25th,  1851,  in  which 
the  editor,  Mr.  Gales,  had  alluded  to  the  remarkable  character  of  this 
political  novel,  as  furnishing  a  key  to  some  of  the  profoundcst  intrica 
cies  in  American  politics. 


viii  Explanatory  Introduction. 

"  JTo  one,"  said  Mr.  Gales,  "who  has  been  familiar  with  the  topics 
and  tone  of  the  discussions  in  the  South  for  the  last  two  years  but  will 
at  once  recognise  in  this  fiction — a  fiction  not  at  all  more  strange  than 
the  reality — the  projected  shadow  of  what  has  already  come  to  pass. 
From  that  day  to  this  these  defeated  '  partisans'  have  spared  no  pains 
to  make  their  story  come  true,  by  diffusing  doubts  and  discontents  into 
the  quiet  homes  as  well  as  the  political  circles  of  the  South,  with  a  view 
to  bring  about  a  revolution,  which,  had  their  ambition  succeeded, 
would,  in  its  consequences,  have  desolated  those  homes,  broken  up 
those  abodes  of  peace  and  happiness,  and  devastated  the  country  with 
the  flames  of  a  fierce,  unsparing,  and  unrelenting  civil  war." 

Alas,  that  the  revolution  which  Mr.  Gales  supposed  to  have  been 
averted  by  the  passage  of  the  Compromise  of  1850,  should  have  been 
brought  back  upon  the  pathway  of  our  country  by  the  fatal  repeal  of 
the  Missouri  Compromise,  the  abominations  and  bloodshed  in  Kansas, 
the  proceeding  in  the  Charleston  Convention  of  last  year,  and  the 
crowning  derelictions  and  treason  of  the  Buchanan  administration. 


F AC- S IMI LE 

Of  the  Original  Edition,  printed  at  Washington 
in    1 836. 


THE 


PARTISAN  LEADER; 


A  TALE  OF  THE  FUTUKE. 


EDWARD    WILLIAM    SIDNEY. 


'810  8»MPBR  TYRANNIS." 

The  Motto  of  Virginia 
'PABS  rm." Virgil. 


IN    TWO    VOLUMES. 


PRINTED 

FOB  THE  PUBLISHERS,   BY  JAMES  CAXT01T. 

1856.      // ;;f~  ~ 


Copy-right  secured  according  to  I 


DEDICATION. 


TO    THE     PEOPLE    OF    VIRGINIA. 

THE  part  I  bore  in  the  transactions  which  form  the 
subject  of  the  following  narrative,  is  my  voucher  for 
its  authenticity.  My  admiration  of  the  gallant  people, 
whose  struggle  for  freedom  I  witnessed  and  partook ; 
the  cherished  friendships  contracted  among  them,  at  a 
time  of  life  when  the  heart  is  warm,  and  under  cir 
cumstances  which  called  all  its  best  feelings  into 
action ;  and,  above  all,  the  connexion  then  formed, 
which  has  identified  me  with  Virginia,  and  which, 
during  the  last  five  years,  has  been  the  source  of  all 
my  happiness;  are  my  inducements  to  dedicate  this 
work  to  you.  The  approbation  which,  in  acknow 
lodging,  more  than  rewarded  my  humble  services,  is 
my  warrant  for  hoping,  that  this  tribute  of  grateful 
veneration  will  be  favorably  received. 


xiv  Dedication. 

s. 

Among  those  whom  Virginia,  at  this  time,  honors 
with  high  places  in  her  councils,  I  see  with  pride, 
the  names  of  many  with  whom  I  once  stood,  shoulder 
to  shoulder,  in  the  eye  of  danger.  Of  my  regard  for 
these,  this  is  not  the  place  to  speak,  for  they  are  not 
thus  to  learn  my  sentiments  concerning  them.  The 
record  of  their  praise,  and  the  reward  of  their  glorious 
deeds,  is  on  the  page  of  history. 

But  there  are  others  who  will  die  without  their 
fame,  and  whose  names  will  sink  with  them  into  the 
tomb,  of  whose  unpretending  devotion  to  their  native 
country  I  am  proud  to  testify.  They  belong  to  that 
class,  peculiar  to  a  society  whose  institutions  are  based 
on  domestic  slavery ;  the  honest,  brave,  hardy,  and 
high-spirited  peasantry  of  Virginia.  Among  them,  I 
saw  examples  of  simple  virtue  and  instinctive  patriot 
ism  ;  and  from  their  lips  I  heard  lessons  of  that  un 
taught  wisdom,  which  finds  its  place  in  minds 
uncorrupted  by  artificial  systems  of  education,  and 
undebased  by  abject  and  menial  occupations.  The 
names  of  Jacob  Schwartz  and  Christian  Witt  deserve 
to  live  in  history.  But  the  narrative,  in  which  I  have 
endeavored  to  preserve  them,  will,  in  after  times,  be 
classed  among  romances.  Such  is  the  fate  of  all  men, 
whose  deeds  shame  the  vaunted  achievements  of  those 
the  world  calls  great. 


Dedication.  xv 

Be  it  so.  It  is  not  the  less  my  duty  to  testify  of 
what  I  have  witnessed.  Eemembering  the  virtues 
which  I  saw  displayed  by  such,  I  take  pride  in  dedi 
cating  to  the  whole  people  of  Virginia,  in  all  ranks 
and  classes,  this  imperfect  record  of  what  I  witnessed 
in  her  late  glorious  struggle. 

E.  W.  S. 

P.  S.  My  date  reminds  me  that  this  is  the  anni 
versary  of  that  glorious  day,  on  which  Virginia  first 
declared  herself  an  independent  State.  May  its 
auspicious  return  ever  find  you  FREE,  HAPPY,  and 
GLORIOUS  ! 


THE 


PARTISAN     LEADER. 


CHAPTBE    I. 

And  whomsoe'er,  along  the  path  you  meet, 
Bears  in  his  cap  the  badge  of  crimson  hue, 
"Which  tells  you  whom  to  shun,  and  whom  to  greet. 

BYRON. 

TOWARD  the  latter  end  of  the  month  of  October,  1849, 
about  the  hour  of  noon,  a  horseman  was  seen  ascend 
ing  a  narrow  valley  at  the  eastern  foot  of  the  Blue 
Eidge.  His  road  nearly  followed  the  course  of  a  small 
stream,  which,  issuing  from  a  deep  gorge  of  the  moun 
tain,  winds  its  way  between  lofty  hills,  and  terminates 
its  brief  and  brawling  course  in  one  of  the  larger  tri 
butaries  of  the  Dan.  A  glance  of  the  eye  took  in  the 
whole  of  the  little  settlement  that  lined  its  banks,  and 
measured  the  resources  of  its  inhabitants.  The  differ 
ent  tenements  were  so  near  to  each  other  as  to  allow- 
but  a  small  patch  of  arable  land  to  each.  Of  manu 
factures  there  was  no  appearance,  save  only  a  rude 
shed  at  the  entrance  of  the  valley,  on  the  door  of 

1 


2  The  Partisan  Leader. 

wliicli  the  oft  repeated  brand  of  the  horse-shoe  gave 
token  of  a  smithy.  There  too  the  rivulet,  increased 
by  the  innumerable  springs  which  afforded  to  every 
habitation,  the  unappreciated,  but  inappreciable  luxury 
of  water,  cold,  clear,  and  sparkling,  had  gathered 
strength  enough  to  turn  a  tiny  mill.  Of  trade  there 
could  be  none.  The  bleak  and  rugged  barrier,  which 
closed  the  scene  on  the  west,  and  the  narrow  road, 
fading  to  a  foot-path,  gave  assurance  to  the  traveller 
that  he  had  here  reached  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  social 
life  in  that  direction. 

Indeed,  the  appearance  of  discomfort  and  poverty 
in  every  dwelling  well  accorded  with  the  scanty  ter 
ritory  belonging  to 'each.  The  walls  and  chimneys  of 
unhewn  logs,  the  roofs  of  loose  boards  laid  on  long 
rib-poles,  that  projected  from  the  gables,  and  held 
down  by  similar  poles  placed  above  them,  together 
with  the  smoked  and  sooty  appearance  of  the  whole, 
betokened  an  abundance  of  timber,  but  a  dearth  of 
everything  else.  Contiguous  to  each  was  a  sort  of 
rude  garden,  denominated,  in  the  ruder  language  of 
the  country,  a  "truck-patch."  Beyond  this  lay  a 
small  field,  a  part  of  which  had  produced  a  crop  of 
oats,  while  on  the  remainder  the  Indian  corn  still 
hung  on  the  stalk,  waiting  to  be  gathered.  Add  to 
this  a  small  meadow,  and  the  reader  will  have  an 
outline  equally  descriptive  of  each  of  the  little  farms 
which,  for  the  distance  of  three  miles,  bordered  the 
stream. 

But,  though  the  valley  thus  bore  the  marks  of  a 


The  Partisan  Leader.  3 

crowded  population,  a  deep  stillness  pervaded  it. 
The  visible  signs  of  life  were  few.  Of  sounds  there 
were  none.  A  solitary  youngster,  male  or  female, 
alone  was  seen  loitering  about  every  door.  These, 
as  the  traveller  passed  along,  would  skulk  from 
observation,  and  then  steal  out,  and,  mounting  a 
fence,  indulge  their  curiosity,  at  safe  distances,  by 
looking  after  him. 

At  length  he  heard  a  sound  of  voices,  and  then  a 
shrill  whistle,  and  all  was  still.  Immediately,  some 
half  a  dozen  men,  leaping  a  fence,  ranged  them 
selves  across  the  road  and  faced  him.  He  observed 
that  each,  as  he  touched  the  ground,  laid  hold  of  a 
rifle  that  leaned  against  the  enclosure,  and  this  cir 
cumstance  drew  his  attention  to  twenty  or  more  ; 
these  formidable  weapons,  ranged  along  in  the  same 
position.  The  first  impulse  of  the  traveller  was  to 
draw  a  pistol ;  but  seeing  that  the  men,  as  they 
posted  themselves,  rested  their  guns  upon  the  ground 
and  leaned  upon  them,  he  quietly  withdrew  his 
hand  from  his  holster.  It  was  plain  that  no  violence 
wras  intended,  and  that  this  movement  was  nothing 
but  a  measure  of  precaution,  such  as  the  unsettled 
condition  of  the  country  required.  He  therefore 
advanced  steadily  but  slowly,  and,  on  reaching  the 
party,  reined  in  his  horse,  and  silently  invited  the 
intended  parley. 

The  men,  though  somewhat  variously  attired,  were 
all  chiefly  clad  in  half-dressed  buck-skin.  They 
seemed  to  have  been  engaged  in  gathering  corn  in 


4  The  Partisan  Leader. 

the  adjoining  field.  Their  companions,  who  still 
continued  the  same  occupation,  seemed  numerous 
enough  (including  women  and  boys,  of  both  of  which 
there  was  a  full  proportion,)  to  have  secured  the 
little  crop  in  a  few  hours.  Indeed,  it  would  seem 
that  the  whole  working  population  of  the  neighbor 
hood,  both  male  and  female,  was  assembled  there. 

As  the  traveller  drew  up  his  horse,  one  of  the 
men,  speaking  in  a  low  and  quiet  tone,  said,  u  We 
want  a  word  with  you,  stranger,  before  you  go  any 
farther." 

"  As  many  as  you  please,"  replied  the  other,  "  for 
I  am  tired  and  hungry,  and  so  is  my  horse ;  and  I 
am  glad  to  find  some  one,  at  last,  of  whom  I  may 
hope  to  purchase  something  for  both  of  us  to  eat." 

"  That  you  can  have  quite  handy,"  said  the  coun 
tryman,  "  for  we  have  been  gathering  corn,  and 
were  just  going  to  our  dinner.  If  you  will  only  just 
'light,  sir,  one  of  the  boys  can  feed  your  horse,  and 
you  can  take  such  as  we  have  got  to  give  you." 

The  invitation  was  accepted  ;  the  horse  was  taken 
in  charge  by  along-legged  lad  of  fifteen,  without  hat 
or  shoes  ;  and  the  whole  party  crossed  the  fence 
together. 

At  the  moment,  a  man  was  seen  advancing  toward 
them,  who,  observing  their  approach,  fell  back  a  few 
steps,  and  threw  himself  on  the  ground  at  the  foot 
of  a  large  old  apple-tree.  Around  this  were  cluster 
ed  a  motley  group  of  men,  women,  and  boys,  who 
opened  and  made  way  for  the  stranger.  lie  advanced, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  j 

and,  bowing  gracefully,  took  off  his  forage  cap,  from 
beneath  which  a  quantity  of  soft  curling  flaxen  hair 
fell  over  his  brow  and  cheeks.  Every  eye  was  now 
fixed  on  him,  with  an  expression  rather  of  interest 
than  mere  curiosity.  Every  countenance  was  serious 
and  composed,  and  all  wore  an  air  of  business,  ex 
cept  that  a  slight  titter  was  heard  among  the  girls, 
who,  hovering  behind  the  backs  of  their  mothers, 
peeped  through  the  crowd,  to  get  a  look  at  the  hand 
some  stranger. 

He  was  indeed  a  handsome  youth,  about  twenty 
years  of  age,  whose  fair  complexion  and  regular 
features  made  him  seem  yet  younger.  He  was  tall, 
slightly,  but  elegantly  formed,  with  a  countenance  in 
which  softness  and  spirit  were  happily  blended.  His 
dress  was  plain  and  cheap,  though  not  unfashionable. 
A  short  grey  coat,  waistcoat,  and  pantaloons,  that 
neatly  fitted  and  set  off  his  handsome  person,  showed 
by  the  quality  of  the  cloth  that  his  means  were  limited  ; 
or  that  he  had  too  much  sense  to  waste,  in  foppery, 
that  which  might  be  better  expended  in  the  service  of 
his  suffering  country.  But,  even  in  this  plain  dress, 
he  was  apparelled  like  a  king  in  comparison  with  the 
rustics  that  surrounded  him ;  and  his  whole  air  would 
have  passed  him  for  a  gentleman,  in  any  dress  and 
any  company,  where  the  constituents  of  that  character 
are  rightly  understood. 

In  the  present  assembly  there  seemed  to  be  none, 
indeed,  who  could  be  supposed  to  have  had  much 
experience  in  that  line.  But  dignity  is  felt,  and 


6  The  Partisan  Leadt 

courtesy  appreciated  by  all,   and  the  expression  oi 
frankness  and  truth  is  everywhere  understood. 

As  the  youth  approached,  the  man  at  the  foot  of  the 
tree  arose,  and  returned  the  salutation,  which  seemed 
unheeded  by  the  rest.  He  advanced  a  step  or  two, 
and  invited  the  stranger  to  be  seated.  This  action, 
and  the  looks  turned  toward  him  by  the  others( 
showed  that  he  was  in  authority  of  some  sort  among 
them.  With  him,  therefore,  our  traveller  concluded 
that  the  proposed  conference  was  to  be  held.  There 
was  nothing  in  his  appearance  which  would  have  led 
a  careless  observer  to  assign  him  any  pre-eminence. 
But  a  second  glance  might  have  discovered  something 
intellectual  in  his  countenance,  with  less  of  boorish- 
ness  in  his  air  and  manner  than  the  rest  of  the 
-company  displayed.  In  all,  indeed,  there  was  the 
negative  courtesy  of  that  quiet  and  serious  demeanor 
which  solemn  occasions  impart  to  the  rudest  and  most 
frivolous.  It  was  plain  to  see  that  they  had  a  com 
mon  purpose,  and  that  neither  ferocity  nor  rapacity 
entered  into  their  feeling  toward  the  newcomer, 
Whether  he  was  to  be  treated  as  a  friend  or  at; 
enemy,  obviously  depended  on  some  high  considera 
tion,  not  yet  disclosed. 

He  was  at  ^ength  asked  whence  he  came,  and 
answered  from  the  neighborhood  of  Kichmond. 
From  which  side  of  the  r.ver?— From  the  north 
side.  Did  he  know  anything  of  Van  Courtlandt  ?— 
His  camp  was  at  Bacon's  branch,  just  above  the 
town.  What  force  had  he  ? 


The  Partisan  Leader.  7 

"  I  cannot  say,  certainly,"  he  replied,  "  but  com 
mon  fame  made  his  numbers  about  four  thousand." 

"  Is  that  all,  on  both  sides  of  the  river? "  said  his 
interrogator. 

"  O,  no !  Col.  Loyal's  regiment  is  at  Petersburg, 
and  Col.  Cole's  at  Manchester;  each  about  five 
hundred  strong ;  and  there  is  a  piquet  on  the  Bridge 
island." 

"  Did  you  cross  there  ?" 

"  I  did  not." 

"  Where  then  ?"  he  was  asked. 

"  I  can  hardly  tell  you,"  he  replied,  "  it  was  at  a 
private  ford,  several  miles  above  Cartersville.*" 

"  Was  not  that  mightily  out  of  the  way  ?  What 
made  you  come  so  far  around?" 

"  It  was  safer  travelling  on  that  side  of  the  river.2' 

"  Then  the  people  on  that  side  of  the  river  are 
your  friends  ?" 

"  No.  They  are  not.  But,  as  they  are  all  of  a 
color  there,  they  would  let  me  pass,  and  ask  no  ques 
tions,  as  long  as  I  travelled  due  west.  On  this  side, 
if  you  are  one  man's  friend,  you  are  the  next  man's 
enemy  ;  and  I  had  no  mind  to  answer  questions." 

"  You  seem  to  answer  them  now  mighty  freely." 

"  That  is  true.  I  am  like  a  letter  that  tells  all  it 
knows  as  soon  as  it  gets  to  the  right  hand ;  but  it 
does  not  want  to  be  opened  before  that." 

"  And  how  do  you  know  that  you  have  got  to  the 
right  hand  now  ?  " 

"  Because  I  know  where  I  am." 


8  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  And  where  are  you  ? " 

"  Just  at  the  foot  of  the  Devil's  Back-bone,"  re 
plied  the  youth. 

"  Were  you  ever  here  before  ?  " 

"  Never  in  my  life." 

"  How  do  you  know  then  where  you  are  ? "  asked 
the  mountaineer. 

"  Because  the  right  way  to  avoid  questions  is  to 
ask  none.  So  1  took  care  to  know  all  about  the 
road,  and  the  country,  and  the  place,  before  I  left 
home." 

"  And  who  told  you  all  about  it? " 

"  Suppose  I  should  tell  you,"  answered  the  young 
man,  "  that  Yan  Courtlandt  had  a  map  of  the  coun 
try  made,  and  gave  it  to  me." 

•    "  I  should  say,  you  were  a  traitor  to  him,  or  a  spy 
upon  us,"  was  the  stern  reply. 

At  the  same  moment,  a  startled  hum  was  heard 
from  the  crowd,  and  the  press  moved  and  swayed  for 
an  instant,  as  if  a  sort  of  spasrn  had  pervaded  the 
whole  mass. 

"  You  are  a  good  hand  at  questioning,"  said  the 
youth,  with  a  smile,  "  but,  without  asking  a  single 
question,  I  have  found  out  all  I  wanted  to  know." 

"  And  what  was  that  ? "  asked  the  other. 

"  "Whether  you  were  friends  to  the  Yorkers  and 
Yankees,  or  to  poor  old  Virginia." 

"And  which  are  we  for?"  added  the  laconic 
mountaineer. 

"  For  OLD  YIKGINIA  FOR  EVER,"  replied  the  youth, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  g 

in  a  tone  in  which  exultation  rung  through  a  deeper 
emotion,  that  half  stifled  his  voice. 

It  reached  the  hearts  of  his  auditors,  and  was 
echoed  in  a  shout  that  pealed  along  the  mountain 
sides  their  proud  war-cry  of  "  OLD  VIRGINIA  FOR 
EVEK."  The  leader  looked  around  in  silence,  but 
with  a  countenance  that  spoke  all  that  the  voices  of 
his  comrades  had  uttered. 

"  Quiet,  boys,"  said  he,  "  never  shout  till  the  war 
is  ended — unless  it  be  when  you  see  the  enemy." 
Then  turning  again  to  the  traveller,  he  said,  "  And 
how  did  you  know  we  were  for  old  Virginia  ?" 

"  I  knew  it  by  the  place  where  I  find  you.  1 
heard  it  in  your  voice;  1  saw  it  in  their  eyes;  and  I 
felt  it  in  my  heart;"  said  the  young  man,  extending 
his  hand. 

His  inquisitor  returned  the  cordial  pressure  with 
an  iron  grasp,  strong,  but  not  convulsive,  and  went 
on  :  "  You  are  a  sharp  youth,"  said  he,  "  and  if  you 
are  of  the  right  metal  that  will  hold  an  edge,  you 
will  make  somebody  feel  it.  But  I  don't  know 
rightly  yet  who  that  is  to  be,  only  just  I  will  say, 
that  if  you  are  not  ready  to  live  and  die  by  old  Vir 
ginia,  your  heart  and  face  are  not  of  the  same  color, 
that's  all." 

He  then  resumed  his  steady  look  and  quiet  tone, 
and  added,  "You  must  not  make  me  forget  what  I 
am  about.  How  did  you  learn  the  way  here  ?" 

"I  can  answer  that  now /"  said  the  youth.     UJ 

learned  it  from  Captain  Douglas." 

l* 


io  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  Captain  Douglas  !"  exclaimed  the  other.  "  li 
you  were  never  here  before,  you  have  never  seen 
him  since  he  knew  it  himself." 

"True  enough;"  was  the  reply.  "But  I  ha^e 
heard  from  him." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  his  letter." 

"  1  have  no  letter." 

"How  then?" 

"  Go  with  me  to  my  horse,  and  I  will  show  you." 

The  youth,  accompanied  by  his  interrogator,  now 
returned  toward  the  fence.  Many  of  the  crowd 
were  about  to  follow ;  but  the  chief  (for  such  he 
seemed)  waved  them  back  with  a  silent  motion  of 
his  hand,  while  a  glance  of  meaning  at  two  of  the 
company  invited  them  to  proceed.  As  soon  as  the 
stranger  reached  his  horse,  he  drew  out,  from 
between  the  padding  and  seat  of  his  saddle,  a  paper 
closely  folded.  On  opening  this,  it  was  found^to  be 
a  map  of  his  route  from  .Richmond  to  a  point  in  the 
mountains,  a  few  miles  west  of  the  spot  where  they 
stood.  On  this  were  traced  the  roads  and  streams, 
with  the  names  of  a  few  places,  written  in  a  hand 
which  was  known  to  the  leader  of  the  mountaineers 
to  be  that  of  Captain  Douglas.  A  red  line  marked 
the  devious  route  the  traveller  had  been  directed  to 
pursue. 

He  said  that,  after  crossing  the  river,  between 
Lynchburg  and  Cartersville,  to  avoid  the  parties  of 
the  enemy  stationed  at  both  places,  he  had  lain  by, 
until  dark,  at  the  house  of  a  true  Yirginian.  Then, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  H 

taming  south,  and  riding  hard  all  night,  he  had 
crossed  the  Appomattox  above  Farmville,  (which  he 
avoided  for  a  like  reason,)  and,  before  day,  had  left 
behind  him  all  the  hostile  posts  and  scouting  par- 
tics.^  He  soon  reached  the  Staunton  river^  and, 
having  passed  it,  resumed  his  westward  course  in 
comparative  safety. 

"You  know  this   hand,"  said  he   to  the  chief, 
"  and  now,  I  suppose,  you  are  satisfied." 

I  am  satisfied,"  replied  the  other,  «  and  glad  to 
see  you.  I  have  not  a  doubt  about  you,  young  man, 
and  you  are  heartily  welcome  among  us— to  all  we 
can  give  you— and  that  an't  much— and  all  we  can 
do  for  you;  and  that  will  depend  upon  whether 
stout  hearts,  and  willing  minds,  and  good  rifles  can 
help  you.  But  you  said  you  were  hungry ;  so,  I 
dare  say,  you'll  be  glad  enough  of  a  part  of  our 
sorry  dinner." 


12  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTER    II. 

Heus  I  etiam  Mensas  cousumimus. — VIRGIL. 

RETURNING  to  the  party  which  they  had  left,  they 
found  the  women  in  the  act  of  placing  their  meal 
before  them,  under  the  apple-tree.  There  was  a 
patch  of  grass  there,  but  no  shade ;  nor  was  any 
needed  in  that  lofty  region ;  the  frost  had  already 
done  its  work  by  stripping  the  trees  of  their  leaves, 
and  letting  in  the  welcome  rays  of  the  sun  through 
the  naked  branches.  The  meal  consisted  of  fresh 
pork  and  venison,  roasted  or  broiled  on  the  coals, 
which  looked  tempting  enough,  though  served  up 
in  wooden  trays.  There  were  no  knives  but  such 
as  each  hunter  carries  in  his  belt.  Our  traveller's 
dirk  supplied  the  place  of  one  to  him.  Their  plates 
were  truly  classical,  consisting  of  cakes  of  Indian 
corn,  baked  in  the  ashes,  so  that,  like  the  soldiers  of 
^Eneas,  each  man  ate  up  his  platter  before  his  hun 
ger  was  appeased. 

Our  traveller,  though  sharp-set,  could  not  help 
perceiving  a  woful  insipidity  in  his  food,  for  which 
his  entertainer  apologized.  "  We  ha'nt  got  no  salt 
to  give  you,  stranger,"  said  he.  "  The  little  that's 


The  Partisan  Leader.  13 

made  on  the  waters  of  Holston  is  all  used  there ; 
and  what  comes  hy  way  of  the  sound  is  too  dear  for 
the  like  of  us,  that  fight  one  half  the  year,  and  work 
the  other  half,  and  then  with  our  rifles  in  our  hands. 
As  long  as  we  let  the  Yankees  hold  James  river,  we 
must  make  up  OUT  minds  to  eat  our  hogs  when  they 
are  fat,  and  to  do  without  salt  to  our  bread.  But  it 
is  not  worth  grumbling  about ;  and  bread  without 
salt  is  more  than  men  deserve  that  will  give  up.  their 
country  without  fighting  for  it." 

When  the  meal  was  finished,  our  traveller,  express 
ing  a  due  sense  of  the  courtesy  of  his  entertainers, 
asked  what  was  to  pay,  and  proposed  to  continue  his 
journey. 

"  As  to  what  you  are  to  pay,  my  friend,"  said  the 
spokesman  of  the  party,  in  the  same  cold,  quiet  tone, 
"  that  is  just  nothing.  If  you  come  here  by  Captain 
Douglas's  invitation,  you  are  one  of  us ;  and  if  you 
do  not,  we  are  bound  to  find  you  as  long  as  we  keep 
you.  But,  as  to  your  going  just  yet,  it  is  quite 
against  our  rules." 

"  How  is  that  ?"  asked  the  traveller,  with  some 
expression  of  impatience. 

"That  is  what  I  cannot  tell  you,"  replied  the  other. 

"  But  what  right,"  exclaimed  the  youth — then 
checking  himself,  he  added :  "  But  I  see  you  mean 
nothing  but  what  is  right  and  prudent ;  and  you  must 
take  your  own  way  to  find  out  all  you  wish  to  know 
about  me.  But  I  thought  you  said  you  did  not 
doubt  me." 


14  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  No  more  I  do,"  replied  the  other  ;  "  but  that  is 
not  the  thing.  May  be,  our  rules  are  not  satisfied, 
though  I  am." 

"  An  J  what  are  your  rules  ?" 

"It  is  against  rule  to  tell  them,"  said  the  moun 
taineer,  dryly.  "  But  make  yourself  easy,  stranger. 
We  mean  you  no  harm,  and  I  will  see  and  have 
every  thing  laid  straight  before  sun-rise.  You  are 
heartily  welcome.  Such  as  we've  got  we  give  you ; 
and  that  is  better  than  you  will  find  where  you  are 
going.  For  our  parts,  except  it  be  for  salt,  we  are 
about  as  well  off  here  as  common ;  because  there  is 
little  else  we  use  that  comes  from  foreign  parts.  I 
dare  say,  it  will  go  hard  with  you  for  a  while,  sir ; 
but,  if  your  heart's  right,  you  will  not  mind  it,  and 
you  will  soon  get  used  to  it." 

"It  would  be  a  great  shame,"  said  the  youth,  "if  I 
cannot  bear  for  a  while  what  you  have  borne  for  life." 

"Yes,"  said  the  other,  "that  is  the  way  people 
talk.  .But  (axing  your  pardon,  sir,)  there  an't  no 
sense  in  it.  Because  the  longer  a  man  bears  a  thing, 
the  less  he  minds  it ;  and  after  a  while,  it  an't  no 
hardship  at  all.  And  that's  the  way  ivith  the  poor 
negroes  that  the  Yankees  pretend  to  be  so  sorry  for, 
and  tried  to  get  them  to  rise  against  their  masters. 
There's  few  of  them,  stranger,  but  what's  happier 
than  I  am  ;  but  I  should  be  mighty  unhappy,  if  you 
were  to  catch  me  now,  in  my  old  days,  and  make  a 
slave  of  me.  jSo  when  the  Yankees  want  to  set  the 
negroes  free,  and  to  make  me  a  slave,  they  want  to  put 


The  Partisan  Leader.  15 

us  both  to  what  we  are  not  fit  for.  And  so  it  will  be 
with  you  for  a  while,  among  these  mountains,  sleep 
ing  on  the  ground,  and  eating  your  meat  without  salt, 
or  bread  either,  may  be.  But  after  a  while  you  will 
not  mind  it.  But  as  to  whether  it  is  to  be  long  or 
short,  young  man,  you  must  not  think  about  that. 
You  have  no  business  here,  if  you  have  not  made  up 
your  mind  to  stand  the  like  of  that  for  life  ;  and  may 
be  that  not  so  mighty  long  neither." 

At  this  moment  a  signal  from  the  road  gave  notice 
of  the  approach  of  a  traveller ;  and  the  leader  of  the 
mountaineers,  accompanied  by  his  guest,  went  for 
ward  in  obedience  to  it.  But,  before  he  reached  the 
fence,  he  saw  several  of  the  party  leap  it,  and  run 
eagerly  forward  to  meet  the  new-comer.  A  little  man 
now  appeared,  walking  slowly  and  wearily,  whose 
dress  differed  but  little  from  that  of  the  natives ;  and 
who  bore,  like  them,  a  rifle,  with  its  proper  accompa 
niments  of  knife,  tomahawk,  and  powder-horn.  His 
arrival  awakened  a  tumult  of  joy  among  the  younger 
persons  present,  while  he  whom  I  have  designated  as 
the  chief  stood  still,  looking  toward  him  with  a  coun 
tenance  in  which  an  expression  of  thoughtful  interest 
was  mingled  with  a  sort  of  quiet  satisfaction,  and  great 
kindness  and  good  will.  Yet  he  moved  but  a  step  to 
meet  him,  and  extending  his  hand,  said,  in  his  usual 
cold  tone,  "  How  is  it,  Schwartz  ?"  to  which  the 
other,  in  a  voice  somewhat  more  cheeiy,  replied 
"Well;  how  is  it  with  you,  Witt?" 
the  grave  answer. 


iO  The   Partisan  Leader. 

The  two  now  drew  apart  to  converse  privately  to* 
gether.  Crossing  the  road,  they  seated  themsel  ves  on 
the  fence  in  front  of  the  stranger,  so  that  during  their 
conference  they  could  keep  an  eye  on  him. 

"  Who  is  this  you  have  got  here?"  asked  Schwartz. 

"  A  young  fellow  that  says  he  wants  to  go  to  the 
camp,"  replied  the  other. 

"  Has  he  got  the  word  and  signs?1' 

"  No.  He  does  not  know  any  thing  about  it.  I 
have  a  notion  he  is  a  friend  of  the  captain's." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so?" 

"  He  has  got  a  paper  in  the  captain's  hand- write  to 
show  him  the  way.  But  there's  no  name  to  it ;  and 
if  there  was,  I  could  not  tell  that  he  was  the  man. 
Sure  and  certain  the  captain  wrote  the  paper,  but  then 
somebody  may  have  stolen  it.  A  man  that  knows  as 
much  about  the  country  as  he  does,  after  looking  at 
that  paper  and  travelling  by  it  away  here,  is  the  last 
man  we  ought  to  let  go  any  farther,  or  know  any 
more,  unless  he  is  of  the  right  sort." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  that  paper ;"  said  Schwartz. 

"  Here  it  is,"  replied  his  companion.  "  I  don't 
much  mistrust  the  young  fellow  ;  but  I  did  not  like 
to  let  him  have  it  again  till  I  knew  more." 

Schwartz  now  looked  at  the  paper  and  inquired  the 
stranger's  name. 

"  I  did  not  ask  his  name,"  said  Witt,  "  because 
he  could  just  tell  me  what  name  he  pleased.  As 
there  was  no  name  on  the  paper,  it  did  not  make 
any  odds.  Besides,  I  wanted  to  be  civil  to  him, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  17 

and  your  high  gentlemen  down  about  Richmond 
are  affronted  sometimes  if  yon  ask  their  names. 
The  young  fellow  is  all  right,  or  all  wrong,  any 
how ;  and  his  name  don't  make  any  odds.  If  the 
captain  knows  him,  when  he  sees  him,  it's  all  one 
what  his  name  is." 

"  But  I  know,"  said  Schwartz,  "  who  ought  tc 
have  that  paper;  and  if  he  don't  answer  to  that 
name  it's  no  use  troubling  the  captain  with  him." 

"  I  should  be  sorry  for  any  harm  to  him,"  said 
Witt,  "  for  he  is  a  smart  lad ;  and  if  he  is  not  a  true 
Yirginian,  then  he  is  the  greatest  hypocrfte  that 
ever  was  born." 

They  now  recrossed  the  road,  and  Schwartz, 
addressing  the  stranger,  said,  "  I  must  make  so  bold, 
young  man,  as  to  ask  your  name." 

The  young  fellow  colored,  and,  turning  to  Witt, 
said,  "  I  thought  you  were  satisfied,  and  done  asking 
questions." 

"  So  I  was,"  said  Witt,  "  but  there  is  a  reason  for 
asking  your  name  now,  that  I  did  not  know  of.  I 
owe  you  nothing  but  good  will,  young  man,"  added 
he  with  earnest  solicitude ;  "  and  if  your  name  is 
what  I  hope  it  is,  be  sure  by  all  means  and  tell  the 
truth ;  for  there  is  but  one  name  in  the  world  tliat 
will  save  your  neck." 

"Then  -I  shall  tell  you  no  name  at  all,"  rejoined 
the  youth,  somewhat  appalled  at  this  startling 
intimation.  "  Why  did  not  you  ask  me  at  once, 
when  I  was  in  the  humor  to  keep  nothing  from 


l8  The  Partisan  Leader. 

you.  I  was  willing  to  answer  any  civil  question, 
or  indeed  any  question  you  would  have  put  to  me, 
but  1  will  not  submit  to  be  examined,  over  and 
over,  by  every  chance-comer." 

"  There's  where  you  are  wrong,  young  man," 
replied  Witt.  "  This  is  no  chance-comer.  He  is 
my  head  man,  and  I  am  just  nobody  when  he  is 
here." 

Surprised  at  this  ascription  of  authority  to  the 
diminutive  and  mean-looking  new-comer,  our  tra 
veller  looked  at  him  again,  and  was  confirmed  in  a 
resolut&n  to  resist  it.  He  had  patiently  borne  to 
be  questioned  by  Witt,  who  had  something  of  an 
air  of  dignity.  He  was  a  tall,  clean-limbed,  and 
powerful  man,  of  about  forty,  remarkable  for  the 
sobriety  of  his  demeanor,  and  the  thoughtful  gravity 
of  his  countenance.  The  other  was  a  little,  old 
fellow,  not  less  than  sixty  years  of  age,  in  whose 
manner  and  carriage  there  was  nothing  to  supply 
the  want  of  dignity  in  his  diminutive  form  and 
features.  A  sharp  little  black  eye  was  the  only 
point  about  him  to  attract  attention ;  and  in  that 
the  youth  thought  he  saw  an  impertinent  and  know 
ing  twinkle,  which  rendered  his  inquiries  yet  more 
offensive. 

"I  thought,"  said  he  to  Witt,  "that  Captain 
Douglas  was  your  captain." 

"So  he  is,"  was  his  reply.  "  That  is,  he  commands 
all  here.  But  that  is  only  so  long  as  we  choose.  I 
did  not  tell  you  this  was  my  captain.  He  is  uc 


The  Partisan  Leader.  19 

captain,  nor  lieutenant,  nor  ensign  neither.  But  all  of 
us  here  follow  him ;  and,  when  he  is  away,  the  rest 
follow  me." 

"You  all  follow  him!"  said  the  traveller,  looking 
contemptuously  on  the  puny  figure  before  him. 

"  To  be  sure  they  do;"  said  Schwartz,  with  a  quiz 
zical  smile,  and  answering  the  stranger's  thoughts. 
"  To  be  sure  they  do.  Don't  you  see  I  am  the  'like 
liest  man  here?" 

"  I  cannot  say  I  do,"  said  the  youth,  offended  at 
the  impertinent  manner  of  the  question. 

"  Well,  I  am  the  strongest  man  in  the  whole  com 
pany." 

"  I  should  hardly  think  that ;"  replied  the  traveller, 
scornfully. 

"Any  how,  then,  I  am  the  biggest,"  rejoined 
Schwartz,  laughing.  "  That  you  must  own.  What ! 
do  you  dispute  that  too?  Well  then,  look  here, 
stranger  !  I  ha'nt  got  no  commission,  and  these  men 
are  as  free  as  I  am.  What  do  you  think  makes  them 
obey  my  orders  ?" 

"  I  really  cannot  say,"  replied  the  young  man. 

"  Well,"  said  Schwartz,  "  it  is  a  curious  business, 
and  well  worth  your  considering :  because,  you  see, 
I  have  a  notion  if  you  could  find  that  out,  you  would 
find  out  a  pretty  good  reason  why  you  ought  to  tell 
me  your  name.  But  that  is  your  business.  Some 
name  you  must  have,  and  the  right  one  too.  And 
you  see,  stranger,  it  makes  no  odds  whether  it  is  no 
name  or  the  wrong  one.  It  is  all  the  same  thing ; 


20  The  Partisan  Leader. 

because,  if  you  are  the  man  that  ought  to  have  that 
paper,  you  would  tell  your  name  in  a  minute." 

"  Do  you  know  who  ought  to  have  it  ?"  asked  the 
youth. 

"May  be  I  do,"  said  Schwartz. 

"Question  for  question,"  said  the  other.  "Do  you 
know  ?" 

"  I  do." 

"  Well,  then,  my  name  is  Arthur  Trevor.  Is  that 
right?" 

"  That's  as  it  may  be,"  said  Schwartz.  "  But  now 
I  want  to  know  how  you  came  by  this  paper." 

"  What  need  you  care  about  that,  if  I  am  the  per 
son  that  ought  to  have  it." 

"  Just  because  I  want  to  know  if  you  are  the  one 
that  ought  to  have  it." 

"  I  tell  you,"  replied  the  youth,  "  that  my  name  is 
Arthur  Trevor." 

"But /do  not  know  that  it  is,"  replied  Schwartz, 
carelessly. 

"  Do  you  doubt  my  word,  then  ?"  exclaimed  the 
youth ;  his  eye  flashing,  and  the  blood  rushing  to  his 
face,  as  if  it  would  burst  through  his  clear  skin. 

"  Look  here,  stranger,"  said  Schwartz,  in  a  tone  of 
quiet  expostulation  ;  "I  don't  mean  no  offence,  and 
you'll  think  so  too,  if  you'll  just  look  at  it  rightly  ; 
because,  you  see,  I  don't  know  who  you  are.  I  don't 
doubt  Arthur  Trevor's  word  ;  and,  if  you  are  Arthur 
Trevor,  I  don't  doubt  your  word.  Now,  if  you  have 
any  way  to  show  that  you  are  Arthur  Trevor,  you 


The   Partisan  Leader.  21 

have  but  to  do  it,  and  it  will  set  all  as  straight  as  if  I 
had  axed  you  ten  thousand  pardons." 

u  But  I  have  no  means  of  showing  it,"  said  the 
young  man,  in  some  perplexity.  "  I  took  care  to 
bring  nothing  with  me  to  show  who  I  am.  The  name 
of  Trevor  might  have  brought  me  into  trouble  in 
some  parts  of  the  country." 

"  That  is  true  enough,"  replied  Schwartz ;  "  and 
so  I  asked  you  how  you  came  by  the  paper,  because 
T  knew  how  Arthur  Trevor  should  have  come  by  it ; 
and,  if  you  got  it  that  way,  why  then  you  are  the 
very  man." 

By  this  time  the  youth  saw  the  folly  of  his  anger, 
and  answered,  calmly,  that  he  got  it  from  a  man  he 
never  saw  before. 

"  What  sort  of  a  man  was  he  ?"  asked  Schwartz. 

"  Nothing  uncommon,  except  that  he  was  lame." 

"  Did  he  give  you  anything  else  at  the  same 
time  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  he  gave  me  this ;  "  said  the  youth,  produc 
ing  a  dirty  piece  of  paper,  on  which  were  scrawled 
these  words : 

"  Sur.  If  you  hav  occashun  to  go  of  a  jurney, 
carry  this  with  you,  bekase  it  mout  be  of  sum  sarvice 
to  you." 

"  Well,"  said  Schwartz,  "  that  will  do.  You  are 
Arthur  Trevor,  sure  enough.  And  I  reckon,  Witt, 
you  would  have  said  so  too,  if  you  had  seen  this." 

Witt  looked  at  the  paper,  and  merely  nodded  as 
sent. 


22  The   Partisan  Leader. 

"  Well,"  said  the  young  man,  "  now  I  suppose  I 
may  go  on  to  my  friend." 

"  Not  just  yet,"  said  Schwartz. 

"  Why  so?"  asked  the  youth,  again  relapsing  into 
petulance. 

"  Just  because  you  could  not  get  there,"  was  the 
answer. 

"  Why  not,"  said  he,  "  after  finding  my  way  thus 
far?" 

"  For  the  same  reason  that  you  could  not  have  got 
any  farther  if  I  had  not  come.  You  would  meet 
with  rougher  customers  than  these  between  here  and 
the  camp.  Come,  come,  my  son.  You  must  learn 
to  take  things  easy.  The  captain  has  not  got  a  bet 
ter  friend  than  me  in  the  world ;  nor  you  neither,  if 
you  did  but  know  all.  And,  you  see,  you  are  going 
to  a  new  trade ;  and  I  thought  I  would  just  give  you 
a  lesson.  Now  you  may  see,  that,  when  you  mean 
nothing  but  what  is  fair  and  honorable,  (and  you 
always  know  how  that  is,)  the  naked  truth  is  your 
best  friend ;  and  then,  the  sooner  it  comes  the  better. 
I  am  pretty  much  of  an  old  fox  ;  and  I  reckon  I  have 
told  more  lies  than  you  ever  dreamed  of,  but,  for  all 
that,  I  bave  seen  the  day  when  the  truth  was  better 
than  the  cunningest  lie  that  ever  was  told.  And  then 
again,  it  an't  no  use  to  mind  what  a  man  says  when 
he  don't  know  you ;  because,  you  see,  it  an't  you  he 
is  talking  to,  but  just  a  stranger." 

"  But    I   have    travelled    desperate   hard   to-day, 
Witt,"  continued  Schwartz ;   "  and  I  must  push  on  to 


The  Partisan  Leader.  23 

the  camp  to-night.  So  just  give  me  a  mouthful,  and 
I'll  be  off,  and  pilot  Mr.  Trevor  through  among  the 
guards." 

"  My  horse  is  at  your  service,  as  you  are  tired,"  said 
Arthur,  whose  feelings  toward  his  new  acquaintance 
were  now  quite  mollified. 

"I  have  had  riding  enough  for  one  day,"  said 
Schwartz ;  "  and  was  glad  enough  to  get  to  where  I 
could  leave  my  horse.  It  an't  much  good  a  horse  will 
do  you,  or  me  either,  where  we  are  going.  By  the 
time  we  climb  to  the  top  of  the  Devil's  Backbone, 
you'll  be  more  tired  than  me ;  and  the  horse  will  be 
worst  off  of  any." 

He  now  told  one  of  the  boys  to  make  ready  Ar 
thur's  horse,  and,  snatching  a  hasty  morsel,  seized  his 
rifle.  "  It  will  not  do,"  said  he,  "  to  starve  when  a 
man  is  on  fatigue,  and  it  will  not  do  to  eat  too  much. 
And  see  here,  Witt,"  added  he,  taking  him  apart,  and 
speaking  in  a  low  tone,  "  if  a  long-legged,  red-headed 
fellow  comes  along  here,  and  tells  you  he  is  from  Cur- 
rituck,  and  seems  to  think  he  knows  all  the  signs, 
never  let  him  find  out  but  what  he  does.  Only  just 
make  an  excuse  to  keep  him  a  while,  and  send  a  run 
ner  on  to  me,  that  I  may  have  time  to  get  out  of  the 
way,  because  he  must  not  see  me.  Then  you  can 
start  him  off  again  with  a  couple  of  fellows  to  show 
him  the  way." 


14  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTER    III. 


The  forest's  shady  scene, 


Where  things  that  own  not  man's  dominion  dwell, 
And  mortal  foot  hath  ne'er  or  rarely  been. 

BYRON. 

THE  travellers  now  moved  off  together,  Arthur 
walking,  and  leading  his  horse.  They  soon  reached 
a  point  where  a  sharp  ridge,  jutting  like  a  buttress 
from  the  side  of  the  mountain,  came  down  abruptly 
to  the  very  bank  of  the  rivulet.  Up  this  ridge,  not 
unaptly  called  "the  Devil's  Back-bone,"  the  path 
led.  Leaning,  as  it  were,  against  the  mountain — its 
position,  the  narrow,  ridgy  edge  along  which  the 
traveller  clambered,  arid  the  rough  nodules  which 
interrupted  the  ascent,  like  the  notches  in  a  hen's 
ladder,  gave  it  no  small  resemblance  to  this  house 
wifely  contrivance.  The  steep  descent  on  either 
hand  into  deep  dells,  craggy  and  hirsute  with  stinted 
trees  bristling  from  the  sides,  together  with  the 
similarity  of  these  same  nodules  to  the  joints  of  the 
spine,  had  suggested  a  name  strictly  descriptive  of 
the  place.  The  ruggedness,  steepness,  and  vast 
height  of  the  ascent,  would  naturally  provoke  some 
spiteful  epithet;  and  were  the  spot  to  be  named 


The  Partisan  Leader.  25 

again,  a  hundred  to  one  it  would  receive  the  same 
name,  and  no  other. 

At  the  summit  of  this  narrow  stair,  the  travellers 
stopped  to  take  breath,  and  look  back  on  the  scene 
below.  Arthur,  who  was  at  the  romantic  age  when 
young  men  are  taught  to  affect  an  enthusiasm  for 
the  beauties  of  nature,  and  to  prate  about  hues  and 
scents,  and  light  and  shade,  and  prospects  in  all  the 
variety  of  the  grand,  the  beautiful,  and  the  pictu 
resque,  had  been  feasting  his  imagination  with  the 
thought  of  the  glorious  view  to  be  seen  from  the 
pinnacle  before  him.  Like  an  epicure  about  to 
feast  on  turtle,  who  will  not  taste  a  biscuit  before 
hand  lest  he  should  spoil  his  dinner,  so  our  young 
traveller  steadily  kept  his  face  toward  the  hill  as 
ae  ascended  it.  Even  when  he  stopped  to  take 
breath,  he  was  careful  not  to  look  behind.  Schwartz, 
on  the  contrary,  who  was  in  advance,  always  faced 
about  on  such  occasions,  filling  the  pauses  with 
conversation,  and  looking  as  if  unconscious  of  the 
glorious  scene  over  which  his  eye  glanced  unheed 
ing.  Arthur  was  vexed  to  see  such  indifference, 
and  wondered  whether  this  was  the  effect  of  use,  or 
of  the  total  absence  of  a  faculty  of  which  poets  so 
much  delight  to  speak. 

At  length  the  summit  was  attained ;  and  now  the 
youth  looked  around  in  anticipated  exultation.  At 
first  he  felt  bound  to  admire,  and,  forgetting  the 
unromantic  character  of  his  matter-of-fact  compa 
nion,  exclaimed  :  "  Oh !  how  grand  !  how  beautiful  1" 
' 


26  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  For  my  part,"  said  Schwartz,  indifferently,  "  I 
cannot  say  that  I  see  any  thing  at  all  rightly,  except 
it  be  the  little  branch  down  there,  with  its  patches 
of  meadow  and  corn-fields,  and  its  smoky  cabins. 
In  the  spring  of  the  year,  when  you  cannot  see  the 
cabins  for  the  shaders,  and  the  corn,  and  oats,  and 
meadow  is  all  of  a  color,  it  looks  mightily  like  a 
little  green  snake.  What  it  is  like  just  now,  I  cannot 
say,  as  I  never  saw  one  of  them  snakes  half-scaled, 
and  with  a  parcel  of  warts  on  his  back  :  but  I  have 
a  notion  he  would  look  pretty  much  so.  As  to  any 
thing  else — there  is  something  there,  to  be  sure,  but 
what  it  is,  I  am  sartain  I  could  never  tell,  if  I  did 
not  know.  And  as  to  the  distance  I  hear  some 
folks  talk  about — why  the  farther  you  look,  the  less 
you  see,  that's  all ;  until  you  get  away  yonder, 
t'other  side  of  nowhere ;  and  then  you  see  just  no 
thing  at  all." 

"  But  the  vastness  of  the  view !"  said  Arthur. 
"  The  idea  of  immensity  !" 

"  As  to  that,"  replied  Schwartz,  "  you  have  only 
just  to  look  up,  and  you  can  look  a  heap  farther, 
and  still  see  nothing.  All  the  difference  is,  you 
know  it  is  nothing ;  and  down  there,  you  know  there 
is  something,  and  you  cannot  see  what  it  is." 

"  I  am  afraid  your  eyes  are  bad,"  said  Arthur. 

"  I  cannot  see  as  well  as  I  could  once,"  replied 
Schwartz ;  "  but  if  there  was  anything  to  be  seen 
down  there,  I  should  be  right  apt  to  see  it.  I  have 
clomb  this  hill,  Mr.  Trevor,  when  I  could  see  the 


The  Partisan  Leader.  27 

head  of  a  nail  in  a  target  fifty  yards  off,  and  drive 
it  with  my  rifle  ;  and  I  don't  think  I  saw  any  thing 
more  then  than  I  do  now  ;  and  that  is  only  just  be 
cause  there  an't  nothing  there  to  see. — egad !  but 
there  is}  though !  There's  that  chap  a  coming 
along  ;  and  I  must  see  the  Captain,  and  tell  him  all 
about  it  before  he  comes." 

"  I  see  nobody,"  said  Arthur. 

"  That  is  because  you  don't  look  in  the  right 
place,"  replied  Schwartz.  "  Look  along  the  road." 

"  I  don't  see  the  road,  except  just  at  the  foot  of 
the  mountain." 

"  Well !  Look  through  the  sights  of  my  rifle. 
There  !  Don't  you  see  a  man  on  horseback  ?" 

"  I  see  something  moving,'1  said  Arthur  ;  "  but  I 
cannot  tell  what  it  is." 

"  Well,"  said  Schwartz,  "  when  he  comes,  you'll 
see  it's  a  man  riding  on  a  white  horse,  and  then,  may 
be,  you'll  think  if  there  was  anything  else  there,  I 
could  see  that  too." 

He  now  sounded  a  small  whistle,  which  hung  by 
a  leathern  thong  from  his  shoulder-belt.  The  signal 
was  answered  from  the  point  of  a  projecting  crag 
which  jutted  out  from  the  face  of  the  cliff,  not  more 
than  fifty  yards  off.  At  the  same  moment,  a  man 
was  seen  to  rise  up  from  behind  a  rock,  which  had 
hitherto  concealed  him ;  though,  from  his  look-out 
place,  he  must  have  had  a  distinct  view  of  our  tra 
vellers  from  the  moment  they  left  the  valley.  He 
now  approached  and  accosted  Schwartz  in  a  ma-nnei 


28  The  Partisan  Leader. 

winch  showed  that  he  had  already  recognized  him. 
Schwartz  returned  the  salutation,  and,  pointing  out 
the  man  on  the  white  horse,  said  :  "  If  that  fellow 
should  happen  to  get  by  without  their  seeing  him,  I 
want  you  just  to  fall  in  with  him,  like  as  if  you  was 
a  hunting,  and  so  go  with  him  to  the  piquet.  Never 
let  on  but  he  knows  all  the  signs,  and  keep  with 
him  :  and  when  you  get  him  to  the  piquet,  make 
him  believe  that  is  the  camp,  and  that  the  Captain 
will  be  there  after  a  while  ;  and  so  keep  him  there 
till  the  Captain  comes." 

Having  said  this,  he  again  turned  his  eye  toward 
the  object  moving  below,  and  gazed  intently  for  a 
few  minutes.  Arthur,  in  the  mean  time,  was  left  to 
admire  the  prospect,  and  soon  began  to  suspect  that 
Schwartz's  ideas  of  the  picturesque  were  not  so  far 
wrong.  Indeed,  there  is  nothing  to  admire  from  the 
spot,  but  the  road  that  leads  to  it.  From  the  foot  of 
the  mountain  to  the  coast,  there  is  an  expanse  of 
nearly  three  hundred  miles,  with  no  secondary  ridges. 
As  seen  from  that  elevation,  the  whole  is  level  to  tho 
eye,  and  presents  one  sheet  of  unbroken  forest.  Artl  inr 
found  time  to  correct  his  preconceptions  by  the  testi 
mony  of  his  own  senses,  while  Schwartz  continued  to 
observe  the  movements  of  the  distant  traveller.  At 
last  he  said :  "  That  will  do.  They  have  stopped 
him ;  and  he  will  not  get  away  to-night" 

They  now  moved  on  quietly  through  a  forest  of 
lofty  chestnuts,  and  along  a  path  which  wound  its 
way  among  the  scorched  trunks  of  innumerable  trees, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  29 

prostrated  by  the  fires  that  annually  sweep  through 
such  uninhabited  tracts.  The  soil  seemed  fertile, 
and  abounding  in  luxuriant  though  coarse  pasturage  ; 
and  the  high  table-land  of  the  mountain  was  more 
level  than  the  peopled  district  below.  Yet  all  was 
solitary  and  silent;  nor  was  a  vestige  of  habitation 
seen  for  miles.  On  inquiring  the  cause  of  this,  Arthur 
was  told  that  the  country,  at  that  elevation,  was  too 
cold  to  be  inviting,  as  nothing  would  grow  there  but 
grass  and  oats,  and  that  it  was  all  shingled  over  with 
conflicting  patents. 

"They  that  claim  the  land,"  said  Schwartz,  "will 
not  go  to  law  about  it  with  one  another;  because 
they  would  have  to  survey  it,  and  that  would  cost  a 
mint  of  money ;  so  they  all  club  to  keep  it  as  a  sum 
mer  range  for  their  stock.  It  belongs  to  some  of 
them,  and  that  is  enough." 

He  had  not  long  done  speaking,  when  he  suddenly 
stopped,  and,  raising  his  rifle,  fired,  and  began  quietly 
to  load  again. 

"What  did  you  shoot  at?"  asked  Arthur,  looking 
in  the  direction  of  the  shot. 

"  A  monstrous  fine  buck,"  replied  Schwartz. 

"  Where  is  he?     I  did  not  see  him." 

"  You  did  not  look  in  the  right  place.  He  is  down 
and  kicking ;  and  I  always  like  to  load  my  gun  before 
I  go  up  to  them,  because,  you  sec,  a  deer,  when  he  is 
wounded,  is  as  dangerous  as  a^amter." 

"  A  painter  /"  said  Arthur.  "  What  harm  is  there 
in  a  painter,  more  than  another  man  ?" 


30  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  0 !"  said  Schwartz,  laughing,  "  it  an't  no  man  at 
all.  I  don't  just  rightly  know  how  you  high  larnt 
gentlemen  call  his  name,  but  he  is  as  ugly  a  varmint 
as  you'd  wish  to  see ;  most  like  a  big  cat.  Sometimes 
the  drotted  Yankees  gets  hold  of  them  and  puts  them 
in  a  cage ;  and  then  they  call  them  tigers.  Egad !  I 
catched  a  young  one  once  and  sold  him  to  one  of 
these  fellows;  and  the  next  time  I  seed  him,  he  was 
carrying  the  creetur  about  with  him  for  a  show.  And 
he  did  not  remember  me ;  and  so  I  axed  him  what  it 
was ;  and  he  said  'twas  an  Effrican  tiger  right  from 
Duck  river !  Lord !  how  the  folks  did  laugh  ;  'cause 
you  see,  sir,  Duck  river  is  just  a  little  way  down  here 
in  Tennessee,  not  over  five  hundred  miles  off;  and 
Effrica,  they  tell  me,  is  away  t'other  side  of  the  her 
ring-pond,  where  the  negurs  come  from." 

By  this  time  the  rifle  was  loaded,  and  they  advanced 
toward  the  fallen  deer.  They  were  quite  near  before 
Arthur  discovered  him ;  and,  at  the  moment,  the  ani 
mal  (a  noble  buck  of  ten  branches)  recovered  himself 
so  far  as  to  regain  his  feet.  He  still  staggered,  but 
the  sudden  sight  of  his  enemy  seemed,  at  once,  to 
stiffen  his  limbs  with  horror,  and  give  them  strength 
to  support  him.  In  an  instant  his  formidable  antlers 
were  pointed ;  and,  with  eyes  glaring  and  blood-shot, 
and  his  hair  all  turned  the  wrong  way,  he  was  in  act 
to  spring  forward.  At  the  instant,  the  report  of  the 
rifle  was  again  heard,  and,  pitching  on  the  points  of 
his  horns,  he  turned  fairly  heels  over  head,  and  lay 
with  his  legs  in  air,  and  quivering  in  death.  Schwartz 


The  Partisan  Leader.  31 

now  drew  his  knife  across  the  animal's  throat,  and 
proceeded  to  disembowel  him,  when  Arthur  asked 
what  he  would  do  with  the  carcass. 

"I'll  just  hang  him  up  in  a  sapling."  said  he,  '"till 
I  meet  one  of  our  men.  There  ought  to  be  one  close 
by,  and  I  can  send  him  for  him.  Where  there's  a 
hundred  mouths  to  feed,  such  a  buck  as  this  is  a  cash 
article." 

At  this  moment,  the  snapping  of  a  dry  stick  caught 
his  ear ;  and,  looking  up,  he  saw  a  man  approaching. 

"  I  don't  know  that  fellow,"  said  he,  looking  hard 
at  him.  "  But  it's  all  one.  I  can  make  him  know 
me." 

The  usual  salutation  now  passed,  and  the  stranger 
said :  "  If  I  may  be  so  bold,  stranger,  I'd  be  glad  to 
know  what  parts  you  are  from  ?" 

"  From  Passamaquoddy,"  said  Schwartz. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  the  price  of  skins  down  there 
away  ?" 

"  Twenty-five  cents  and  a  quarter  a  pound,"  replied 
Schwartz. 

A  few  more  simple  questions  and  out-of-the-way 
answers  were  exchanged,  when  Schwartz,  addressing 
the  other,  in  an  under  tone,  said :  "  You  are  one  of 
the  new  recruits,  I  reckon?"  The  other  nodded;  and 
Schwartz  went  on  to  ask  their  number.  Being  told 
they  were  fifty,  he  said,  gravely :  "  "Now,  there  you 
are  wrong.  You  are  right  enough  to  pass  me,  after 
I  gave  you  the  word ;  but  that's  no  reason  you 
should  tell  me  anything.  I  just  asked  you,  you  see, 


32  The   Partisan  Leader. 

to  give  you  a  'caution  ;  cause  a  fellow  might  come 
along  here  that  would  give  you  the  word  as  straight 
as  any  body,  and  be  a  spy  all  the  time.  So  the 
right  way  would  be,  just  to  pass  him  and  keep  dark, 
that's  the  rule ;  and,  by  the  time  he'd  find  out  how 
many  men  we've  got,  may  be  he'd  find  out  some 
thing  else  he  would  not  like  quite  so  well.  But 
come,  let  us  take  the  deer  up  the  road,  and  you  can 
walk  your  post  and  watch  it,  till  I  can  send  some 
body  for  it  from  the  piquet." 

The  sturdy  mountaineer  at  once  shouldered  the 
animal ;  and,  striding  along  to  the  road,  threw  him 
down,  and  quietly  betook  himself  to  eating  the 
chestnuts  that  covered  the  ground.  The  traveller 
moved  on,  and  presently  came  to  the  piquet. 

Here  was  a  small  party  quartered  in  a  rude  and 
ruinous  cabin,  near  which  was  an  enclosure  around 
a  beautiful  fountain,  that  welled  up  from  a  natural 
basin  of  stone.  In  this  were  confined  twenty  or 
thirty  calves.  A  few  horses  were  piqueted  at  hand, 
and  the  sides  of  the  adjoining  hills  were  covered 
with  a  numerous  herd  of  fat  cattle,  browsing  on  the 
faded,  but  still  succulent  vegetation.  The  time  was 
come  when  they  should  have  been  driven  down  for 
the  winter,  to  the  farms  of  their  owners  below,  but 
they  were  left  here  that  the  men  might  have  the  use 
of  their  milk.  Should  the  hunting  at  any  time 
prove  unsuccessful,  there  was  always  a  beef  at  hand. 

Here  Schwartz  was  known,  and  joyfully  wel 
comed.  He  stopped  only  to  tell  of  the  deer,  and 


The  Partisan  Leader.  3^ 

moved  on.  "  You  have  a  curious  system  here,"  said 
Arthur  ;  "  I  see  the  people  here  know  you,  but  how 
did  you  manage  with  that  new  recruit?  I  watched 
you,  and  I  did  not  see  you  give  him  any  sign,  ami 
lie  did  not  ask  for  a  countersign." 

"  That  is  all  because  you  don't  know  what  foolish 
answers  I  gave  to  his  questions.  You  see,  we  ha'nt 
got  no  countersign  rightly  ;  'cause  you  see,  when  I 
stop  a  man,  I  want  to  know  who  he  is,  but  I  don't 
want  to  tell  him  anything  about  myself.  But  if  I 
ax  a  man  for  the  countersign,  just  so  I  might  as  well 
tell  him  I  am  on  guard  at  once.  So  we've  just  got, 
may  be,  twenty  simple  questions ;  and  when  we  ask 
them,  our  own  folks  know  what  answer  to  give,  and 
the  answer  is  sure  to  be  one  that  nobody  would  give 
unless  he  was  in  the  secret." 

"  And  pray  how  did  you  find  out  that  I  was 
Arthur  Trevor  ?" 

"  O  !  nothing  easier,  sir.  That  man  that  gave  you 
the  map  was  not  no, more  lame  than  you.  But  I 
told  him  to  be  sure  and  not  give  it  to  nobody  but 
you,  and  then  to  limp  so  as  you'd  be  sure  to  notice 
it.  You  see,  it  was  I  that  was  to  try  fall  in  with 
you,  and  pilot  you  ;  but,  after  that,  I  got  up  another 
scheme.  As  to  the  other  paper,  that  was  to  serve 
you  with  our  folks,  because  there  was  a  mark  there 
you  did  not  notice,  that  any  of  them  would  know ; 
and  then  they  would  be  middling  sure  you  were  the 
man  you  said  you  were.  They  would  have  been 
civil  to  you,  and  let  you  pass,  but  then  they  would 

2* 


34  The  Partisan  Leader. 

have  sent  a  man  or  two  to  the  camp  with  yon.  And 
now,  Mr.  Trevor,  here  is  something  that  I  can  see, 
and  I  have  a  notion  it's  worth  looking  at." 

While  he  was  yet  speaking,  Arthur's  ears  had 
been  saluted  by  a  brawling  sound,  which  he  now 
recognized  as  the  rush  of  water.  Turning  his  head 
towards  it,  he  perceived  that  it  proceeded  from  a 
deep  and  shaggy  dell,  which  the  path  was  now 
approaching,  and  along  the  verge  of  which  it  pre 
sently  wound.  Here  the  plain  broke  sheer  down 
into  a  gulph  of  vast  depth,  at  the  bottom  of  which 
a  considerable  stream  was  seen.  It  dashed  rapidly 
along,  pouring  its  sparkling  waters  over  successive 
barriers  of  yellow  rock,  that  sent  up  a  golden  gleam 
from  beneath  the  crystal  sheet  that  covered  them. 
The  mountain-pine,  the  fir,  the  kalmia,  and  number 
less  other  evergreens,  which  nearly  filled  the  gorge, 
afforded  only  occasional  glimpses  of  the  water ; 
while  they  set  off  the  picturesque  appearance  of  so 
much  as  they  permitted  to  be  seen.  As  they  ad 
vanced,  they  came  to  a  part  where  the  trees  had 
been  cut  from  the  brow  of  the  cliff;  and,  several  of 
those  below  having  been  removed,  a  clearer  view 
was  afforded. 

Here,  at  the  depth  of  two  hundred  feet,  figures 
were  seen  moving  to  and  fro,  while,  right  opposite, 
under  a  beetling  cliff,  that  screened  them  from 
above,  were  groups  clustered  around  fires,  kindled 
against  the  rock,  behind  a  rude  breast-work  of  logs. 
The  whole  breadth  of  the  stream  was  here  exposed 


The  Partisan  Leader.  3^ 

to  view,  apparently  twenty  or  thirty  yards  wide. 
Though  shallow,  by  reason  of  its  rapidity  it  seemed 
to  pour  a  vast  volume  of  water. 

Standing  on  the  brow  of  the  cliff,  Schwartz  now 
littered  a  shout,  and  immediately  half  a  dozen  men, 
seizing  their  rifles,  moved  np  the  glen,  and  were 
soon  hidden  tinder  the  bank  on  which  the  travellers 
stood.  They  now  went  on,  and  presently  reached  a 
point  at  which  the  path,  turning  short  to  the  left, 
dived  into  the  abyss,  leading  down  a  rugged  ledge 
that  sloped  along  the  face  of  the  cliff,  in  the  direc 
tion  opposite  to  that  of  their  approach.  It  reached 
the  very  bottom,  nearly  under  the  point  from  which 
the  shout  of  Schwartz  had  given  notice  of  his  pre 
sence.  Here  he  stopped ;  and,  requesting  Arthur 
to  wait  a  moment,  he  descended.  He  had  not  gone 
far  before  his  name  was  repeated  by  a  dozen  voices, 
and  immediately  he  was  heard  to  say :  "  Yes,  it  is 
Schwartz  ;  and  I  have  a  friend  with  rne." 

"  Bring  him  down,"  was  the  answer ;  upon  which 
Schwartz,  returning,  requested  Arthur  to  follow 
him,  and  rnind  his  footing.  Arthur  obeyed,  and 
descended,  not  without  some  appearance  of  danger, 
sometimes  leaping  and  sometimes  crawling,  until  he 
reached  the  group  stationed  at  the  foot  of  this  rude 
stairway.  Here  let  us  leave  him  for  a  while,  and 
go  back  to  inquire  who  and  whence  he  was. 


36  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTEE    IY. 

Handmaid  of  Prudence,  Fortune  comes 

Prompt  to  her  bidding,  ready  to  fulfil 
Her  mistress'  pleasure ;  whether  she  demand 
The  treasures  of  the  South,  the  applause  of  men, 
Or  the  calm  sunshine  of  domestic  bliss, 

Lo !  they  are  hers  I  ANONYMOUS. 

*• 

ARTHUR  TREVOR  was  the  youngest  son  of  a  gentle 
man  who  resided  in  the  neighborhood  of  Richmond. 
He  was  a  man  in  affluent  circumstances,  and  had  long 
and  honorably  filled  various  important  and  dignified 
stations  in  the  service  of  his  native  State.  Endowed 
with  handsome  talents,  an  amiable  disposition,  and  all 
the  accomplishments  that  can  adorn  a  gentleman,  he 
added  to  these  the  most  exemplary  virtues.  His 
influence  in  society  had,  of  course,  been  great,  and 
though  now,  at  the  age  of  seventy,  withdrawn  from 
public  life,  his  opinions  were  inquired  of,  and  his  coun 
sel  sought,  by  all  who  had  access  to  him.  Through 
life  he  had  been  remarkable  for  firmness,  and  yet 
more  for  prudence.  The  steadiness  of  his  principles 
could  never  be  questioned,  but,  it  was  thought,  he 
had  sometimes  deemed  it  wise  to  compromise,  when 
men  of  less  cautious  temper  would  have  found  safety 
in  prudent  boldness. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  37 

To  this  temperament  had  been  attributed  his  con 
duct  in  regard  to  the  politics  of  the  last  twenty  years. 
Bred  up  in  the  school  of  State  rights,  and  thoroughly 
imbued  with  its  doctrines,  he  had,  even  before  that  time, 
been  accustomed  to  look,  with  a  jealous  eye,  on  the  pro 
gressive  usurpations  of  the  Federal  Government.  In  the 
hope  of  arresting  these,  he  had  exerted  more  than  his 
usual  activity  in  aiding  to  put  down  the  younger  Adams, 
and  to  elevate  his  successor.  Though  no  candidate  for 
the  si^oils  of  victory,  no  man  rejoiced  more  sincerely  in 
the  result  of  that  contest ;  and,  until  the  emanation  of  the 
proclamation  of  December,  1832,  he  had  given  his  hearty 
approbation,  and  steady,  though  quiet  support,  to  the 
administration  of  Andrew  Jackson. 

From  that  moment  he  seemed  to  look  with  fearful 
bodings  on  the  affairs  of  his  country.  His  disap 
probation  of  that  instrument  was  expressed  with  as 
much  freedom  and  force  as  was  consistent  with  his 
habitual  reserve  and  moderation.  He  was,  indeed, 
alarmed  into  a  degree  of  excitement  unusual  with 
him,  and  might  have  gone  farther  than  he  did,  had 
he  not  found  that  others  were  disposed  to  go,  as  he 
thought,  too  far.  He  had  entirely  disapproved  the 
nullifying  ordinance  of  South  Carolina ;  and,  though 
he  recognized  the  right  of  secession,  he  deprecated 
all  thought  of  resorting  to  that  remedy.  He  was 
aware  that  many  of  his  best  friends,  thinking  that 
its  necessity  would  be  eventually  felt  by  all,  feared 
that  that  conviction  might  come  too  late.  They 
remarked  the  steady  tendency  of  Federal  measures  tc 


38  The  Partisan  Leader. 

weaken  the  malcontent  States  in  the  South,  and  to 
increase  the  resources  of  their  northern  oppressors 
and  those  of  the  General  Government.  Hence  they 
feared,  that  whenever  Virginia,  or  any  other  of  the 
slave-holding  States,  should  find  itself  driven  to  seces 
sion,  the  other  party,  in  the  confidence  of  superior 
strength,  might  be  tempted  forcibly  to  resist  the  exer 
cise  of  the  right.  They  thus  arrived  at  the  conclu 
sion  that  separation  (which  they  deemed  inevitable) 
to  be  peaceable,  must  be  prompt. 

These  ideas  had  been  laid  before  Mr.  Trevor,  and, 
in  proportion  to  the  urgency  with  which  they  were 
pressed,  was  his  alarm  and  his  disposition  to  adhere 
to  the  Union.  He,  at  last,  had  brought  himself  to 
believe  union,  on  any  terms,  better  than  disunion, 
under  any  circumstances.  As  the  lesser  evil,  there 
fore,  he  determined  to  forget  the  proclamation,  arid, 
striving  to  reconcile  himself  to  all  the  acts  of  the 
administration,  he  regarded  every  attempt  to  unite  the 
South,  in  support  of  a  southern  president,  as  a  pre 
lude  to  the  formation  of  a  southern  confederacy.  By 
consequence,  he  became  a  partisan  of  Martin  Van 
Buren ;  and  united  with  Eitchie,  and  others  of  the 
same  kidney,  in  endeavoring  to  subdue  the  spirit,  and 
tame  down  the  State  pride  of  Virginia.  These  endea 
vors,  aided  by  the  lavish  use  of  federal  patronage  in 
the  State,  were  so  far  successful,  that  when,  at  the 
end  of  Van  Buren's  second  term,  he  demanded  a 
third  election,  she  alone,  in  the  South,  supported  his 
pretensions. 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


39 


By  the  steady  employment  of  the  same  pernicious 
influences,  the  elections  throughout  the  State  had  been 
so  regulated,  as  to  produce  returns  of  a  majority 
of  members  devoted  to  the  views  of  the  usurper. 
This  had  continued  until  the  spring  of  1848,  at  which 
time  the  results  of  the  elections  were  essentially  the 
same  which  had  taken  place  since  the  memorable 
1836  ;  when  Virginia,  at  one  stroke  of  the  pen, 
expunged  her  name  from  the  chronicles  of  honor, 
expunged  the  history  of  all  her  glories,  expunged  her 
self.  From  that  time  the  land  of  Washington,  and 
Henry,  and  Mason,  of  Jefferson,  Madison,  and  Kan- 
dolph,  sunk  to  the  rank  of  a  province,  administered 
and  managed  by  the  Eiveses  and  Eitchies,  the  Bar 
bours  and  Stevensons,  the  Watkinses  and  Wilsons, 
whose  chance  to  be  remembered  in  history  depends, 
like  that  of  Erostratus,  on  the  glories  of  that  temple 
of  liberty  which  they  first  desecrated  and  then  de- 
etroyed. 

"  Where  once  the  Csesars  dwelt, 
There  dwelt,  tuneless,  the  birds  of  night." 

From  some  cause,  not  understood  at  the  time,  an 
unexpected  reaction  had  taken  place  between  the 
spring  elections  and  the  recurrence  of  that  form  of 
presidential  election  in  the  fall,  the  observance  of 
which  was  still  deemed  necessary  to  display,  and,  by 
displaying,  to  perpetuate  the  usurper's  power.  This 
reaction  appeared  to  show  itself  chiefly  in  those  coun 
ties  heretofore  most  distinguished  for  their  loyalty. 


40  The  Partisan  Leader. 

It  would  have  seemed  as  if  the  spirit  of  John  Ran 
dolph  had  risen  from  the  sleep  of  death,  and  walked 
abroad  through  the  scenes  where  his  youthful  shoul 
ders  had  received  the  mantle  of  his  eloquence  from 
the  hand  of  Henry.  For  the  first  time,  in  twelve 
years,  the  vote  of  Virginia  was  recorded  against  the 
re-election  of  Martin  Yan  Buren  to  the  presidential 
throne. 

But  not  the  less  subservient  were  the  proceedings 
of  the  Legislature  elected  for  his  use,  the  spring  be 
fore.  Yet  enough  had  been  done  to  justify  the  hope 
that  the  ancient  spirit  of  old  Virginia  would  yet 
show  itself  in  the  descendants  of  the  men  who  had 
defied  Cromwell,  in  the  plenitude  of  his  power,  and 
had  cast  off  the  yoke  of  George  the  Third,  without 
waiting  for  the  co-operation  of  the  other  colonies. 
At  the  same  time,  the  power  and  the  will  of  a  fixed 
majority  in  the  North,  to  give  a  master  to  the  South, 
had  been  made  manifest.  It  was  clearly  seen,  too, 
that  he  had  determined  to  use  the  power  thus  ob 
tained,  and  to  administer  the  government  solely 
with  a  view  to  the  interest  of  that  sectional  faction, 
by  which  he  had  been  supported.  "  Vce  metis  /" 
"  Woe  to  the  vanquished !"  was  the  word.  It  had 
gone  forth  ;  and  northern  cupidity  and  northern 
fanaticism  were  seen  to  march,  hand  in  hand,  to  the 
plunder  and  desolation  of  the  South. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  Southern  States 
had  been,  at  length,  forced  to  see  that  the  day  for 
decisive  action  had  arrived.  They  therefore  deter- 


The  Partisan  Leader.  41 

mined  no  longer  to  abide  the  obligations  of  a  con 
stitution,  the  form  of  which  alone  remained,  and 
having,  by  a  movement  nearly  simultaneous,  seceded 
from  the  Union,  they  had  immediately  formed  a" 
Southern  Confederacy.  The  suddenness  of  these 
'measures  was  less  remarkable  than  the  prudence  with 
which  they  had  ~been  conducted.  The  two  together 
left  little  doubt  that  there  had  been  a  preconcert 
among  the  leading  men  of  the  several  States,  arrang 
ing  provisionally  what  should  le  done,  whenever  cir 
cumstances  should  throw  power  into  the  hands  of  those 
whom,  at  the  bidding  of  the  usurper,  the  people  had 
once  driven  from  their  councils.  It  is  now  known 
that  there  was  such  concert.  Nor  was  it  confined  to 
the  seceding  States  alone.  In  Virginia,  also,  there 
were  men  who  entered  into  the  same  views.  But 
while  the  President  believed  that  no  decisive  step 
would  be  taken  by  the  more  Southern  States  with 
out  her  co-operation,  he  had  devoted  all  his  power, 
direct  and  indirect,  to  control  and  influence  her  elec 
tions.  Of  tumultuary  insurrection  he  had  no  fear. 
The  organized  operation  of  the  State  Government 
was  what  he  dreaded.  By  this  alone  could  the  mea 
sure  of  secession  be  effected  ;  and  this  was  effectu 
ally  prevented  by  operating  on  the  elections  of 
members  of  the  Legislature  of  Yirginia.  From  the 
^November  vote  on  the  Presidential  election,  less 
evil  had  been  apprehended,  and  less  pains  had  been 
taken  to  control  it.  In  consequence  of  this,  some 
thing  more  of  the  real  sentiments  of  the  people  had 


42  The  Partisan  Leader. 

been  allowed  to  appear  on  that  occasion ;  and,  from 
this  manifestation,  the  more  Southern  States  were 
encouraged  to  hope  for  the  ultimate  accession  of 
Virginia  to  their  Confederacy.  They  had  therefore 
determined  to  wait  for  her  no  longer ',  but  to  proceed 
to  the  execution  of  their  plan,  leaving  her  to  follow. 

The  disposition  of  the  usurper,  at  first,  was  to  treat 
them  as  revolted  provinces ;  and  to  take  measures 
for  putting  down,  by  force,  their  resistance  to  his 
authority.  But  circumstances,  to  be  mentioned 
hereafter,  made  it  impolitic  to  resort  to  this  measure. 
But  these  did  not  operate  to  prevent  him  from  using 
the  most  efficacious  means  to  prevent  Virginia  from 
following  their  example.  Though  restrained  from 
attacking  them,  nothing  prevented  him  from  aifect- 
ing  to  fear  an  attack  from  them.  This  gave  a  pre 
text  for  raising  troops  ;  and  the  position  of  Virginia, 
as  the  frontier  State,  afforded  an  excuse  for  station 
ing  them  within  her  borders.  Under  these  pretences, 
small  corps  were  established  in  many  of  the  disaf 
fected  counties.  Should  the  presence  of  these  be 
ineffectual  to  secure  the  return  of  delegates  devoted 
to  the  crown,  an  ultimate  security  was  taken  against 
the  action  of  the  Legislature.  Richmond,  the  seat 
of  government,  became  the  head-quarters  of  the  army 
of  observation,  as  it  was  called,  and,  surrounded  by 
this,  the  mock  deliberations  of  the  General  Assembly 
were  to  be  held. 

The  money  thus  thrown  into  the  country  seduced 
*he  corrupt,  while  terror  subdued  the  timid.  On 


The  Partisan  Leader.  43 

Mr.  Trevor,  who  was  neither,  these  things  had  a  con 
trary  effect.  He  now,  when  it  was  too  late,  saw 
and  lamented  the  error  of  his  former  overcaution. 
He  now  began  to  suspect  that  they  had  been  right 
who  had  urged  him,  eighteen  years  before,  to  lend 
his  aid  in  the  work  of  arousing  the  people  to  a  sense 
of  their  danger,  and  preparing  them  to  meet  it  as 
one  man. 


44  The  Partisan  Leader 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  sponge  that  soaks  up  the  king's  countenance. 

HAMLET. 

AMONG  those  who  had  been  most  prompt  to  take 
this  view  of  the  subject,  and  most  vehement  in  re 
commending  it,  was  a  younger  brother  of  Mr.  Trevor. 
In  all,  but  the  great  essentials  of  moral  worth,  this 
gentleman  was  the  very  reverse  of  his  brother.  The 
difference  was,  perhaps,  mainly  attributable  to  the 
character  of  his  intellect.  Quick  in  conception,  and 
clear  in  his  views,  he  was  strong  in  his  convictions, 
and  habitually  satisfied  with  his  conclusions.  This, 
added  to  a  hasty  temper,  gave  him  the  appearance 
and  character  of  a  man  rash,  inconsiderate,  and  pre 
cipitate,  always  in  advance  of  the  progress  of  public 
opinion,  and  too  impatient  to  wait  for  it.  His  ill 
success  in  life  seemed  to  justify  this  construction. 
Though  eminently  gifted  by  nature,  and  possessing 
all  the  advantages  of  education,  he  had  never  occu 
pied  any  of  those  stations  in  which  distinction  is  to 
be  gained.  In  his  private  affairs,  he  had  been  alike 
unprosperous.  Though  his  habits  were  not  expen 
sive,  his  patrimony  had  been  but  little  increased  by 
his  own  exertions.  He  had  married  a  lady  of  hand 
some  property,  but  had  added  little  to  it.  With  only 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


45 


two  daughters,  he  had  not  the  means  of  endowing 
them  with  more  than  a  decent  competency ;  while 
his  elder  brother,  with  a  family  of  a  dozen  children, 
had  educated  the  whole,  and  provided  handsomely 
for  such  as.  had  set  out  in  life,  and  retained  the  where 
withal  to  give  the  rest  nearly  as  much  as  the  children 
of  the  younger  could  expect.  In  short,  the  career 
of  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor  had  been  one  of  uninterrupted 
prosperity.  In  all  his  undertakings  he  had  been 
successful.  Wealth  had  flowed  into  his  coffers,  and 
honors  had  been  showered  on  his  head.  "  When  the 
eye  saw  him,  then  it  blessed  him."  Men  pointed 
him  out  to  their  children,  and  said  to  them :  "  Copy 
his  example,  and  follow  his  steps." 

The  life  of  Bernard,  the  younger  brother,  had  been 
passed  in  comparative  obscurity.  Beloved  by  a  few, 
but  misunderstood  by  many,  his  existence  was  un 
known  to  the  multitude,  and  unheeded  by  most  who 
were  aware  of  it.  They,  indeed,  who  knew  him 
well,  saw  in  him  qualities  which,  under  discreet  re 
gulation,  might  have  won  for  him  distinction  and 
affluence.  None  knew  him  better,  and  none  saw  this 
more  clearly,  than  his  elder  brother.  No  man  gave 
him  more  credit  for  talent  and  honor,  or  less  for  pru 
dence  and  common  sense.  A  habit  of  doubting  the 
correctness  of  his  opinions,  and  condemning  his 
measures,  had  thus  taken  possession  of  the  mind  of 
Mr.  Hugh  Trevor:  and,  as  the  quick  and  intuitive 
Bernard  was  commonly  the  first  to  come  to  a  conclu 
sion,  the  knowledge  of  that  created,  in  the  other,  a 


4.6  The  Partisan  Leader. 

predisposition  to  arrive  at  a  different  result.  In  pro 
portion  as  the  one  was  clear,  so  did  the  other  doubt. 
When  the  former  was  ardent,  the  latter  was  always 
cold ;  and  in  all  matters  in  which  they  had  a  com 
mon  interest,  the  cautions  foresight  of  Hugh  never 
failed  to  see  a  lion  in  the  path  which  Bernard  wished 
to  pursue.  They  were  the  opposite  poles  of  the  same 
needle.  The  clear  convictions  of  the  latter  on  the 
subject  of  secession  had  shaken  the  faith  of  the  for 
mer  in  his  own,  and  had  finally  driven  him  to  the  con 
clusion  already  intimated,  "  that  union,  on  any  terms, 
was  better  than  disunion,  under  any  circumstances" 
The  same  habit  of  thinking  had  retarded  the 
change,  which  the  events  of  the  last  three  years  had 
been  working  in  the  mind  of  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor.  His 
native  candor  and  modesty  made  it  easy  for  him  to 
believe  that  he  had  been  wrong,  and,  being  convinced 
of  error,  to  admit  it.  But  a  corollary  from  this  ad 
mission  would  be,  that  the  inconsiderate  and  impru 
dent  Bernard  had,  all  the  time,  been  right.  Of  the 
correctness  of  such  an  admission  Mr.  Trevor  felt  an 
habitual  diffidence,  that  made  him  among  the  last 
to  avow  a  change  of  opinion  which,  perhaps,  com 
menced  in  no  mind  sooner  than  in  his.  But  the 
change  was  now  complete,  and  it  brought  to  the 
conscientious  old  gentleman  a  conviction  that  on 
him,  above  all  men,  it  was  incumbent  to  spare  no 
means  in  his  power  to  remove  the  mischiefs  of  which 
he  felt  his  own  snpineness  to  have  been  in  part  the 
cause. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  47 

He  was  now  a  private  man  ;  but  lie  had  sons.  To 
have  given  a  direction  to  their  political  course,  might 
not  have  been  difficult.  But,  in  the  act  of  repenting 
an  acknowledged  error,  how  could  he  presume  so  far 
on  his  new  convictions,  as  to  endeavor  to  bind  them 
on  the  minds  of  others?  Was  it  even  right  to  use 
any  portion  of  his  paternal  influence  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  to  the  future  course  of  his  children's  lives 
such  a  tendency  as  might  lead  them  into  error,  to 
the  disappointment  of  their  hopes,  and  perhaps  to 
crime?  The  answer  to  these  questions  led  to  a  de 
termination  to  leave  them  to  their  own  thoughts, 
guided  by  such  lights  as  circumstances  might  throw 
upon  these  important  subjects. 

It  happened  unfortunately,  that,  about  the  time 
of  Mr.  Yan  Buren's  accession  to  the  presidency,  his 
eldest  son  had  just  reached  the  time  of  life  when  it 
is  necessary  to  choose  a  profession.  "Without  any 
particular  purpose  of  devoting  him  to  the  army,  he 
had  been  educated  at  West  Point.  The  favor  of  , 
President  Jackson  had  offered  this  advantage,  which, 
by  the  father  of  so  large  a  family,  was  not  to  be 
declined.  But  the  young  man  acquired  a  taste  for 
military  life,  and  there  was  no  man  in  Virginia  whom 
the  new  President  was  more  desirous  to  bind  to  his 
service  than  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor ;  his  wishes  had  been 
ascertained,  and  the  ready  advancement  of  his  son 
was  the  consequence.  The  promotion  of  Owen  Trevor 
had  accordingly  been  hastened  by  all  means  consist 
ent  with  the  rules  of  the  service.  Eren  these  were 


48  The  Partisan  Leader. 

sometimes  violated  in  his  favor.  In  one  instance, 
he  had  been  elevated  over  the  head  of  a  senior  officer 
of  acknowledged  merit.  The  impatience  of  this  gen 
tleman,  which  had  tempted  him  to  offer  his  resigna 
tion,  had  been  soothed  by  a  staff  appointment,  accom 
panied  by  an  understanding  that  he  should  not, 
unnecessarily,  be  placed  under  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  young  Trevor.  The  latter,  at  the  date  of 
which  we  speak,  had  risen  to  the  command  of  a  regi 
ment,  which  was  now  encamped  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Washington,  in  daily  expectation  of  being 
ordered  on  active  duty. 

Colonel  Owen  Trevor  had  received  his  first  impres 
sions,  on  political  subjects,  at  a  time  when  circum 
stances  made  his  father  anxious  to  establish  in  his 
mir.d  a  conviction  that  union  was  the  one  thing  need 
ful.  To  the  maintenance  of  this  he  had  taught  him 
to  dt  vote  himself,  and,  overlooldng  his  allegiance  to  his 
witivz  State,  to  consider  himself  as  the  sworn  soldier  of 
the  Federal  Government.  It  was  certainly  not  the  wish 
i>f  Mr.  Trevor  to  teach  his  son  to  regard  Virginia 
merdy  as  a  municipal  division  of  a  great  consolidated 
empire.  But  while  he  taught  him  to  act  on  precepts 
which  seemed  drawn  from  such  premises,  it  was  natu 
ral  that  the  young  man  should  adopt  them. 

He  did  adopt  them.  He  had  learned  to  deride  the 
idea  of  State  sovereignty  ;  and  his  long  residence  in 
the  North  had  given  him  a  disgust  at  all  that  is  pecu 
liar  in  the  manners,  habits,  institutions,  and  character 
of  Virginia.  Among  his  boon  companions  he  had 


The  Partisan  Leader.  49 

been  accustomed  to  express  these  sentiments ;  and, 
being  repeated  at  court,  they  had  made  him  a  favor 
ite  there.  .He  had  been  treated  by  the  President 
with  distinguished  attention.  He  seemed  honored, 
too,  with  the  personal  friendship  of  that  favorite  son, 
whom  he  had  elevated  to  the  chief  command  of  the 
army.  Him  he  had  consecrated  to  the  purple ;  pro 
posing  to  cast  on  him  the  mantle  of  his  authority,  so 
as  to  unite,  in  the  person  of  his  chosen  successor,  the 
whole  military  and  civil  power  of  the  empire. 

It  was  impossible  that  a  young  man,  like  Col.  Tre 
vor,  should  fail  to  feel  himself  flattered  by  such  notice. 
He  had  been  thought,  when  a  boy,  to  be  warm-hearted 
and  generous,  and  his  devotion  to  his  patrons,  which 
was  unbounded,  was  placed  to  the  account  of 'grati 
tude  by  his  friends.  The  President,  on  his  part,  was 
anxiously  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  reward 
this  personal  zeal,  which  is  so  strong  a  recommenda 
tion  to  the  favor  of  the  great.  It  was  intimated  to 
Col.  Trevor  that  nothing  was  wanting  to  ensure  him 
speedy  promotion  to  the  rank  of  brigadier,  but  some 
act  of  service  which  might  be  magnified,  by  a  pen 
sioned  press,  into  a  pretext  for  advancing  him  beyond 
his  equals  in  rank.  Apprised  of  this,  he  burned 
for  active  employment,  and  earnestly  begged  to  be 
marched  to  the  theatre  of  war. 

This  theatre  was  Virginia.  But  he  had  long  since 
ceased  to  attribute  any  political  personality  to  the 
State,  and  it  was  a  matter  of  no  consequence  to  him 
that  the  enemies,  against  whom  he  was  to  act,  had 

8 


50  The  Partisan  Leader. 

been  born  or  resided  there.  Personally  they  were 
strangers  to  him  ;  and  he  only  knew  them  as  men 
denying  the  supremacy  of  the  Federal  Government, 
and  hostile  to  the  President  and  his  intended  succes 
sor  (Van  Buren). 

One  person,  indeed,  he  might  possibly  meet  in  arms, 
whom  he  would  gladly  avoid.  His  younger  brother, 
Douglas  Trevor,  had  been,  like  himself,  educated  at 
West  Point,  had  entered  the  army,  and  served  some 
years.  Having  spent  a  winter  at  home,  it  was  suspected 
that  he  had  become  infected  with  the  treasonable  heresies 
of  southern  politicians.  He  had  resigned  his  commission 
and  travelled  into  South  Carolina.  TJie  effect  of  this 
journey  on  his  opinions  was  not  a  matter  of  doubt.  Let 
ters  had  been  received  from  him,  by  his  brother  and  several 
young  officers  of  his  own  regiment,  avowing  a  total  change 
of  sentiment.  These  letters  left  no  doubt,  that  should  Vir 
ginia  declare  for  secession,  or  even  in  case  of  collision 
between  the  Southern  League  and  the  old  United  States, 
he  would  be  found  fighting  against  the  latter.  The 
avowal  of  such  sentiments  and  purposes  had  so  excited 
the  displeasure  of  the  Colonel,  that  he  had  cut  short 
the  correspondence  by  begging  that  he  might  never 
again  be  reminded  that  he  was  the  brother  of  a  trai 
tor.  His  letter  to  this  effect,  being  laid  before  the 
Commander-in-chief,  had  given  the  most  decisive  proof 
of  the  zeal  of  one  brother  and  the  defection  of  the 
other. 

How  this  had  been  brought  about,  Colonel  Trevor 
knew  not.  He  was  not  aware  of  any  alteration  in  his 


The  Partisan  Leader.  51 

father's  sentiments;  and,  indeed,  Douglas  himself  had 
not  been  so,  at  the  time  when  he  was  awakened  to  a 
sense  of  his  country's  wrongs  and  his  own  duty.  The 
change  in  his  mind  had  been  wrought  by  other  means ; 
for  his  father  was,  at  that  time,  doubting,  and,  with 
him,  to  doubt  was  to  be  profoundly  silent. 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


The  boy  is  grown 


So  like  your  brother  that  he  aeems  his  own. 

CEABBE. 

DIFFERENCE  of  political  opinion  had  produced  no 
estrangement  between  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor  and  his  bro 
ther,  though  it  had  interrupted  their  intercourse  by 
rendering  it  less  agreeable.  Men  cannot  take  much 
pleasure  in  each  other's  society,  when  the  subject  on 
which  both  think  and  feel  most  deeply,  is  one  on 
which  they  widely  differ.  The}7  accordingly  saw  little 
of  each  other,  though  an  occasional  letter  passed 
between  them  in  token  of  unabated  affection. 

I  believe  I  have  mentioned  that  the  children  of  Mr. 
Bernard  Trevor  were  both  daughters.  The  eldest, 
then  seventeen  years  of  age.  had  been  invited  to 
spend,  with  her  uncle,  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond, 
the  winter  of  Douglas's  furlough.  He  was  at  that 
time  about  five-and-twenty.  His  long  residence  in 
the  North  had  not  weaned  him  from  his  native  State. 
He  had  not  been  flattered  into  a  contempt  of  every 
thing  Virginian.  Neither  his  age  nor  rank  gave  him 
consequence  enough  to  be  the  object  of  that  sort  of 
attention.  Perhaps,  too,  it  had  been  seen  that  he  was 


The  Partisan  Leader.  53 

a  less  fit  subject  for  it  than  his  elder  brother.  Though 
much  the  younger,  he  had  a  range,  originality,  and 
independence  of  thought,  of  which  the  other  was 
incapable.  Eesting  in  the  esteem  of  his  friends  and 
the  approbation  of  his  own  conscience,  the  applause 
of  the  multitude,  the  flattery  of  sycophants,  and  the 
seducing  attentions  of  superiors,  had  small  charms  for 
him.  His  heart  had  never  ceased  to  glow  at  the  name 
of  Virginia,  and  he  returned  to  her  as  the  wanderer 
should  return  to  the  bosom  of  his  home — to  his 
friends — to  his  native  land.  In  appearance,  manners, 
and  intelligence,  he  was  much  improved ;  in  feeling, 
the  same  warm-hearted,  generous,  unsophisticated 
youth,  as  formerly. 

In  the  meantime,  his  cousin  Delia  had  already 
reached  his  father's  house,  and  was  domesticated  in 
the  family.  There  she  found  the  younger  brothers 
and  sisters  of  Douglas  impatiently  expecting  his 
arrival ;  and  so  much  occupied  with  the  thought  of 
him,  that,  had  she  been  of  a  jealous  disposition,  she 
might  have  deemed  her  welcome  somewhat  careless. 
But  she  already  knew  her  cousins,  her  uncle,  and  her 
aunt.  This  was  not  the  first  time  that  their  house  was 
her  temporary  home  ;  and  she  had  learned  to  consider 
herself  as  one  of  the  family.  As  such,  she  was  ex 
pected  to  enter  into  all  their  feelings.  Douglas  was 
their  common  favorite.  During  his  long  absence,  his 
heart  had  never  cooled  toward  them.  In  this  he  dif 
fered  widely  from  Owen,  in  whom  the  pleasures  of 
an  idle  life  and  the  schemes  of  ambition  had  left  little 


54  The  Partisan  Leader. 

thought  of  the  simple  joys  of  his  childhood's  home, 
The  contrast  between  him  and  Douglas,  in  this 
respect,  rendered  the  latter  yet  more  popular  with  the 
single-hearted  beings  who  were  impatiently  waiting 
his  return. 

"  Do  you  remember  brother  Douglas  ?"  said  Vir 
ginia  Trevor  (a  girl  one  year  younger  than  Delia). 
"  Mamma  says  you  were  a  great  pet  with  him,  when 
a  child,  and  used  to  call  him  your  Douglas." 

"  I  could  not  have  been  more  than  three  years  old 
at  the  time  you  speak  of,"  said  Delia  ;  "  but  I  have 
heard  of  it  so  often,  that  I  seem  to  myself  to  remem 
ber  him.  But,  of  course,  I  do  not  remember  him." 

"  And,  of  course,  he  does  not  remember  you," 
said  Mrs.  Trevor.  "  At  least  he  would  not  know 
you.  But  I  doubt  if  he  ever  has  forgotten  you,  as 
you  were  then.  He  was  to  be  your  husband,  you 
know ;  and  your  father  gave  him  a  set  of  rules  to 
walk  by.  He  was  to  do  so  and  so,  and  to  be  so  and 
so  ;  and  Harry  Sanford  was  to  be  his  model.  He  said 
nothing  about  it  ;  but  *  Sanford  and  Merton '  was 
hardly  ever  out  of  his  hands,  and  we  could  see  that 
he  was  always  trying  to  square  his  conduct  by  your 
father's  maxims.  I  believe  in  my  heart  it  made  a 
difference  in  the  boy  ;  and  that  is  the  reason  why  lie 
is  less  like  his  own  father,  and  more  like  yours,  than 
any  of  the  rest  of  my  boys." 

"  I  shall  certainly  love  him,  then,"  said  Delia,  her 
eyes  filling  as  she  spoke,  "  if  he  is  like  my  dear  old 
father." 


The   Partisan  Leader. 


55 


"  Indeed,  and  you  may,"  said  Mrs.  Trevor;  "but, 
for  all  that,  I  would  rather  have  him  like  his  own 
father.  But  you  must  not  be  affronted,  Delia ;  you 
know  I  claim  the  right  to  brag  about  my  old  man, 
and  to  set  him  up  over  everybody — even  the  Presi 
dent  himself." 

"  /  never  saw  the  President"  said  Delia,  "but  1 
should  be  sorry  to  compare  my  father  with  him." 

"  I  can  assure  you,"  replied  the  aunt,  "there  are 
very  few  men  that  would  bear  the  comparison.  Oh  ! 
he  is  the  most  elegant,  agreeable  old  gentleman,  that 
ever  I  saw." 

"  Except  my  uncle,"  said  Delia,  smiling. 

"  Pshaw  !  Yes,  to  be  sure.  I  always  except 
him." 

"  /will  not  except  my  father"  said  Delia,  gravely. 
"  I  should  not  like  to  hear  him  and  Martin  Yan 
Buren  praised  in  the  same  breath." 

"  Well,  my  dear,"  said  the  good-humored  old 
lady,  "  we  must  not  quarrel  about  it.  But  you  must 
take  care  not  to  talk  so  before  Douglas,  because  he  is 
the  President's  soldier" 

"  1  thought"  said  Delia,  "  he  was  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States" 

"  Well !  and  is  not  that  all  the  same  thing?  /  do 
not  pretend  to  know  anything  about  it,  but  my  hus 
band  says  so,  and  that  is  enough  for  me." 

Mr.  Trevor,  who  had  sat  by  the  while,  listening 
with  grave  complacency,  now  said  :  "  I  am  afraid  you 
don't  report  me  truly,  my  dear."  Then,  extending 


3"6  The  Partisan  Leader. 

his  hand  to  Delia,  he  drew  her  gently  to  him,  and 
placing  her  on  his  knee,  kissed  her.  "  You  are  a 
good  girl,"  said  he,  "  and  shall  love  and  honor  your 
father  as  much  as  you  please.  He  is  a  noble,  gene 
rous  man,  and  a  wise  man  too.  I  would  to  God,'1 
added  he,  sighing  heavily,  "  that  I  had  had  half  his 
wisdom." 

"  Why,  bless  my  soul,  Mr.  Trevor  1"  exclaimed  his 
wife,  "  what  does  this  mean  ?" 

"Nothing,"  replied  he,  "but  a  just  compliment  to 
the  self-renouncing  generosity  and  far-sighted  sagacity 
of  my  brother." 

Saying  this,  he  rose  and  left  the  room,  while  his 
wife  gazed  after  him  in  amazement.  She  had  never 
heard  him  say  so  much  before,  and  now  perceived 
that  he  had  thoughts  that  she  was  not  apprised  of. 
Believing  him  faultless  and  incapable  of  error,  even 
when  he  differed  from  himself,  she  at  once  concluded 
that  she  had  lost  her  cue,  and  determined  to  say  no 
more  about  politics  until  she  recovered  it.  But  he 
never  adverted  to  the  subject  again,  in  her  presence, 
during  the  whole  winter ;  and  her  niece,  consequently, 
heard  no  farther  allusion  to  it  from  her. 

This  was  no  unwelcome  relief  to  Delia.  She  was 
no  politician ;  but  she  was  not  incapable  of  under 
standing  what  passed  in  her  presence  on  the  subject, 
except  when  the  interlocutors  chose  to  mystify  their 
meaning.  Her  father,  a  man  of  no  reserves,  never 
spoke  but  with  a  purpose  of  expressing  his  thoughts 
clearly  and  fully ;  and  110  man  better  knew  how  to 


The  Partisan  Leader.  57 

express  them  than  he.  Though  deficient,  as  I  have 
said,  in  that  cold  prudence  which  takes  advantage  of 
circumstances,  he  was  eminently  gifted  with  that  more 
vigorous  faculty  which  makes  thc°n.  In  the  piping 
times  of  peace,  he  was  a  man  of  no  mark.  But  when 
society  was  breaking  up  from  its  foundations,  he  was 
the  man  with  whom  the  timid  and  doubting  would 
seek  safety  and  counsel.  Infirmity  had  now  overtaken 
him,  and  he  could  do  little  more  than  think  and  speak. 
Consulted  by  all  the.  bold  spirits  who  sought  to  lift 
up,  from  the  dust,  the  soiled  and  tattered  banner  of 
his  native  State,  and  spread  it  to  the  wind,  he  never 
failed  to  converse  freely  with  such,  and  often  in  the 
presence  of  his  daughters. 

By  this  means,  if  he  had  not  imbued  them  with  his 
opinions,  or  charged  their  minds  with  the  arguments 
by  which  he  was  accustomed  to  support  them,  he  had 
made  them  full  partakers  of  his  feelings.  It  seemed, 
indeed,  as  if  he  had  a  purpose  in  this.  What  that 
purpose  was,  time  would  show.  One  end,  at  least, 
it  answered.  It  increased  their  opinion  of  his  powers, 
their  confidence  in  his  wisdom,  and  their  love  for  his 
person.  Mrs.  Hugh  Trevor  herself  did  not  hold  her 
husband's  wisdom  in  more  reverence  than  was 
cherished  by  Delia  for  that  of  her  father. 

And  never  did  man  better  deserve  the  confiding 
affection  of  a  daughter.  He  had  been  her  principal 
instructor  from  infancy.  He  had  formed  her  mind ; 
he  had  trained  her  to  self-command,  and  taught  her 
to  find  her  happiness  in  virtue.  Educated  at  home, 

3* 


58  The  Partisan  Leader. 

her  manners  were  formed  in  a  domestic  circle — cha 
racterized  by  refinement,  and  delicate,  but  frank  pro 
priety.  Her  love  of  reading  had  been  cultivated  by 
throwing  books  in  her  way;  and,  the  taste  once 
formed,  her  attention  had  been  directed  to  such  as 
might  best  qualify  her  for  the  duties  of  woman's  only 
appropriate  station.  Herein  she  had  an  example  in 
her  mother ;  a  lady  of  the  old  school,  courteous  and 
gentle,  but  high-spirited,  generous,  and  full  of  her 
husband's  enthusiasm  in  the  cause  of  his  country. 
Mr.  Bernard  Trevor  was,  indeed,  a  man  to  be  loved 
passionately,  if  loved  at  all ;  and  to  shed  the  vivid 
hue  of  his  mind  on  those  of  his  associates.  It  was 
the  delight  of  his  wife  to  witness,  and  to  cherish,  the 
dutiful  affection  and  ardent  admiration  of  her  daugh 
ters  for  their  father.  The  consequence  was,  that  his 
power  over  their  thoughts,  feelings,  and  inclinations 
was  unbounded. 

It  will  be  readily  believed,  that,  in  the  mind  of 
Delia  Trevor,  thus  pre-occupied,  there  was  no  room 
for  any  very  favorable  predispositions  toward  a  young 
man,  trained  from  his  boyhood  in  the  service  of  her 
country's  oppressors.  She  had  heard  his  mother 
speak  of  him  as  the  sworn  soldier  of  the  arch-enemy 
of  her  beloved  Virginia ;  and  a  sentiment  of  abhor 
rence  arose  in  her  mind  at  the  words.  But  she  re 
flected  that  he  was  her  cousin ;  the  son  of  her  good 
uncle  ;  the  brother  of  her  dearest  friend;  and,  trying 
feo  remember  his  fondness  for  her  when  a  child,  she 
chided  down  the  feeling  of  disgust,  as  unnatural  and 


The  Partisan  Leader.  59 

wicked.  But,  after  all  this  discipline  of  her  own 
mind,  she  found  it  impossible  to  think  of  him  with 
complacency,  or  to  anticipate  his  arrival  with  plea 
sure.  Her  imagination  always  painted  him  in  the  hate 
ful  dress,  which  she  had  been  taught  to  regard  as  the 
badge  of  slavery — the  livery  of  a  tyrant.  She  would  try 
to  love  him,  as  a  kinsman,  but  she  never  could  like  him 
or  respect  him. 

At  length  he  made  his  appearance,  and,  to  her  great 
relief,  in  the  plain  attire  of  a  citizen.  He  was  a 
handsome  youth,  whose  native  grace  had  been  im 
proved  by  his  military  education,  and  in  his  manners 
uniting  the  frankness  of  a  boy  with  the  polish  and 
elegance  of  an  accomplished  gentleman.  Whether 
he  had  been  admonished  by  his  father  to  respect  the 
feelings  of  his  fair  cousin,  or  bad  caught  his  reserve, 
on  the  subject  of  politics,  by  contagion,  she  had  no 
means  of  knowing.  Certain  it  is,  that,  on  that  sub 
ject,  he  was  uniformly  silent,  and  Delia  soon  learned 
to  converse  with  him  on  other  topics,  without  dread 
ing  an  allusion  to  that.  She  thus  saw  him  as  he  was, 
and,  by  degrees,  lost  the  prejudice  which,  for  a  time, 
blinded  her  to  any  merit  he  might  possess. 

And  he  did  possess  great  merit.  A  high  sense  of 
honor,  strict  principles,  great  openness,  and  generosity, 
were  united  in  him  with  talents  of  no  common  order. 
Quick,  apprehensive,  and  clear  in  his  perceptions,  there 
was  a  boldness,  vividness,  and  distinctness  in  his 
thoughts  and  language,  that  continually  reminded  her 
of  him  she  most  loved  and  honored.  Of  her  father 


60  The  Partisan  Leader. 

he  frequently  spoke  with  great  veneration  and  affec 
tion.  He  remembered,  as  his  mother  had  conjectured, 
many  of  his  uncle's  precepts.  He  frequently  quoted 
them  as  of  high  authority  with  him  ;  and  it  was  plain 
to  see,  that,  cherished  during  fourteen  years,  they  had 
exercised  a  decided  influence  in  the  formation  of  his 
character.  Indeed,  it  might  be  doubted  whether  his 
imagination  had  ever  dismissed  the  idea,  which  had 
first  disposed  him  to  lend  a  willing  ear  to  the  sugges 
tions  of  his  uncle.  That  which  was  sport  to  the  elder 
members  of  the  family,  had  seemed  to  him,  at  the 
time,  a  serious  business.  The  thought  that  the  little 
girl,  who  loved  to  hang  on  his  neck  and  kiss  him, 
might  one  day  be  his  wife,  had  certainly  taken  posses 
sion  of  his  boyish  mind.  How  long  he  had  con 
sciously  retained  it  could  not  be  known ;  but  the 
traces  of  it  were  still  there,  and  were  certainly  not 
obliterated  by  the  change  which  time  had  wrought  in 
his  cousin. 

Of  her  personal  appearance  I  have  said  nothing. 
Were  I  writing  a  novel,  I  should  be  bound,  by  all 
precedent,  to  give  an  exact  account  of  Delia's  whole 
exterior.  Her  person,  her  countenance,  her  hair,  her 
eyes,  her  complexion,  should  all  be  described,  and 
the  whole  summed  up  in  a  tout  ensemble  of  surpassing 
beauty.  But,  in  this  true  history,  I  am  unfortunately 
bound  down  by  facts,  and  I  lament,  that  to  the  best 
of  my  recollection,  I  shall  not  have  occasion  to  speak 
of  a  single  female,  in  the  progress  of  my  narrative, 
whose  beauty  can  be  made  a  theme  of  just  praise.  I 


The  Partisan  Leader.  61 

do  sincerely  lament  this ;  for  such  is  the  constitution 
of  human  nature,  that  female  beauty  influences  the 
heart  and  mind  of  man,  even  by  report.  We  read,  in 
Oriental  tales,  of  great  princes  deeply  enamored  of 
descriptions.  The  grey  eyes  of  Queen  Elizabeth  have 
always  made  her  unpopular  with  the  youthful  reader ; 
and  the  beauty  of  Mary  of  Scotland,  three  hundred 
years  after  the  worms  have  eaten  her,  still  continues 
to  gild  her  history  and  gloss  over  her  crimes.  I  can 
say  nothing  so  much  in  favor  of  the  beauty  of  Delia 
Trevor,  as  that  she  was  good  and  intelligent,  remind 
ing  the  reader  of  the  sage  adage  of  Mrs.  Dorothy 
Primrose,  to  wit :  "  Handsome  is,  that  handsome 
does."  I  can  only  add,  that,  when  I  saw  her  after 
wards  hanging  on  the  arm  of  Douglas,  and  looking 
up  in  his  face  with  all  the  deep  and  heartfelt  devotion 
of  a  woman's  love,  I  saw  enough  of  the  constituents 
of  beauty  to  make  her  an  object  of  love,  and  enough 
of  the  soul  of  truth  and  tenderness  to  make  her  seem 
transcendently  beautiful  in  the  eyes  of  a  lover. 

I  say  this,  to  account  for  the  fact  that  her  cousin 
Douglas  soon  found  himself  taking  great  pleasure  in 
her  society,  and  anxious  to  please  her,  not  more  from 
duty  than  inclination.  He  was,  perhaps,  chiefly  at 
tracted  by  her  conversation,  which  was  always  cheer 
ful,  sprightly,  and  intelligent.  He  may  have  yielded 
to  a  spell  of  hardly  less  magic  than  that  of  beauty ; 
the  spell  of  a  voice  melodious,  distinct,  articulate, 
and  richly  flexible,  varying  its  tones  unconsciously 
with  every  change  and  grade  of  thought  or  feeling. 


62  The  Partisan  Leader. 

It  may  have  been  the  effect  of  what  Byron  would 
call  "  blind  contact,"  and  the  sage  Mrs.  Broadhurst 
"propinquity;"  or  it  may  have  been  that  his  hour 
was  come.  If  one  in  ten  of  my  married  friends  can 
tell  exactly  how  he  came  to  fall  in  love  with  his  wife, 
I  shall  hold  myself  bound  to  inquire  farther  into  this 
matter. 

But  1  do  not  mean  to  intimate  that  Lieutenant 
Trevor,  turning  his  back  on  the  belles  of  Boston  and 
New  York,  and  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore,  and 
Washington,  came  home,  and  tumbled  forthwith 
into  love  with  a  plain  country  girl,  just  because  she 
was  his  cousin,  and  he  had  loved  her  when  a  child. 
I  do  not  mean  to  say  he  was  in  love  with  her  at  all. 
He  had  a  sincere  affection  for  her;  he  liked  her  con 
versation  ;  he  admired  her  talents  much,  and  her 
virtues  more.  He  liked  very  much  to  be  with  her, 
and  he  was  very  much  with  her. 

What  came  of  this,  the  reader  shall  be  told 
when  we  have  disposed  of  some  matters  of  higher 
concernment. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  63 


CHAPTEK   YIL 

N"ero  fiddled  while  Rome  was  burning. 

DOUGLAS  TREVOK  reached  his  father's  house  just 
after  the  Virginia  Legislature  had  assembled.  The 
presidential  election  was  just  over,  and  the  partisans 
of  Van  Buren,  exulting  in  their  success,  made  their 
leader  the  more  hateful  to  his  opponents  by  the  inso 
lence  of  their  triumph.  Though  he  had  lost  the 
vote  of  Virginia,  it  will  be  remembered  that  he  still 
commanded  a  majority  in  the  Legislature,  elected 
before  the  revolution  in  public  sentiment  was  com 
plete.  The  more  recent  expression  of  public  senti 
ment  showed  that  the  time  was  come  when  power 
must  be  held  by  means  far  different  from  those  by 
which  it  had  been  acquired.  Opinion,  which  at 
first  had  been  in  their  favor,  was  now  against  them. 
Corruption  had  for  a  time  supplied  the  place  ;  but 
the  fund  of  corruption  was  all  insufficient  to  buy  off 
the  important  interests  which  were  now  roused  to 
defend  themselves.  To  add  to  its  efficiency  by  all 
practicable  means,  and  to  bring  to  its  aid  the  arm 
of  force,  was  all  that  remained. 

To  organize  measures  for  this  purpose,  and  to  en 
rich  themselves  from  the  profuse  disbursement  of 
public  money,  which  formed  a  part  of  the  plan  of 


64  The   Partisan  Leader. 

operations,  were  the  great  objects  which  engaged 
the  minds  of  the  majority  in  the  Virginia  Legisla 
ture.  But  these,  important  as  they  were,  could  not 
entirely  wean  them  from  those  indulgences  which, 
for  many  years,  had  made  Richmond,  during  the 
winter  season,  the  scene  of  so  much  revel  and 
debauchery.  To  these,  as  well  as  to  personal  intri 
gues  and  the  great  interests  of  the  faction,  much 
time  was  given.  But  the  necessity  of  attending 
especially  to  the  latter  was  made  daily  more  apparent 
by  the  startling  intelligence  which  every  mail  brought 
from  the  South  and  Southwest.  The  nearly  simul 
taneous  secession  of  the  States  in  that  quarter,  and 
the  measures  to  be  taken  for  the  formation  of  a 
southern  confederacy,  were  things  which  had  been 
talked  off  until  they  were  no  longer  dreaded.  But 
causes  had  gradually  wrought  their  necessary  effects, 
and  the  ultimate  cooperation  of  Virginia,  if  left  to 
act  freely,  was  now  sure. 

I  have  already  spoken  of  those  men,  in  each  of  the 
southern  States,  of  cool  heads,  long  views,  and  stout 
hearts,  who,  watching  the  progress  of  events,  had 
clearly  seen  the  point  to  which  they  tended.  It  is 
not  here  that  their  names  and  deeds  are  to  be  regis 
tered.  They  are  already  recorded  in  history,  and 
blazoned  on  the  tomb  of  that  hateful  tyranny  which 
they  overthrew.  They  had  been  discarded  from  the 
service  of  the  people,  so  long  as  the  popularity  of  the 
President  had  blinded  the  multitude  to  his  usurpa 
tions.  "The  oppressions  of  the  northern  faction, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  65 

and  the  fierce  assaults  of  rapacity  and  fanaticism, 
hounded  on  by  ambition  to  the  destruction  of  the 
South,  had  restored  them  [the  'State-rights  men'] 
to  public  favor.  They  had  seen  that  secession  must 
come,  and  that,  come  when  it  might,  their  influence 
would  be  proportioned  to  their  past  disgraces.  Pre 
suming  on  this,  they  had  consulted  much  together. 
Not  only  had  they  sketched  provisionally  the  plan 
of  a  southern  confederacy,  but  they  had  taken 
measures  to  regulate  their  relations  with  foreign 
powers."  One  of  their  number,  travelling  abroad, 
had  been  instructed  to  prepare  the  way  for  the 
negotiation  of  a  commercial  treaty  with  Great 
Britain.  One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  new  confede 
racy  was  to  invest  him  publicly  with  the  diplomatic 
character,  and  it  was  at  once  understood  that  com 
mercial  arrangements  would  be  made,  the  value  of 
which  w^ould  secure  to  the  infant  League  all  the 
advantages  of  an  alliance  with  that  powerful  nation. 
The  designation  of  a  gentleman,  as  minister,  who 
had  so  long,  without  any  ostensible  motive,  resided 
near  the  Court  of  St.  James,  left  no  doubt  that  all 
things  had  been  already  arranged.  The  treaty  soon 
after  promulgated,  therefore,  surprised  nobody,  ex 
cept  indeed  that  some  of  its  details  were  too  obvi 
ously  beneficial  to  both  parties  to  have  been  expect 
ed.  Not  only  in  war,  but  in  peace,  do  nations  seem 
to  think  it  less  important  to  do  good  to  themselves 
than  to  do  harm  to  each  other.  The  system  of  free 
trade  now  established,  which  has  restored  to  the 


66  The  Partisan  Leader. 

South  the  full  benefit  of  its  natural  advantages,  and 
made  it  once  more  the  most  flourishing  and  pros 
perous  country  on  earth  ;  which  has  multiplied  the 
manufactories  of  Great  Britain,  and  increased  her 
revenue  by  an  increase  of  consumption  and  re 
sources,  even  while  some  branches  of  revenue  were 
cut  off;  and  which,  at  the  same  time,  has  broken 
the  power  of  her  envious  rival  in  the  North,  and  put 
an  end  for  ever  to  that  artificial  prosperity  engen 
dered  by  the  oppression  and  plunder  of  the  southern 
States ;  is  such  an  anomaly  in  modern  diplomacy, 
that  the  rulers  at  Richmond,  or  even  at  Washington, 
might  well  have  been  surprised  at  it.  But  the  bare 
nomination  of  the  plenipotentiary  was  enough  to 
leave  no  doubt  that  a  treaty  was  ready  for  promul 
gation,  and  that  its  terms  must  be  such  as  to  secure 
the  co-operation  of  Great  Britain. 

But,  while  the  leaders  of  the  ruling  faction  thought 
of  these  things,  and  anxiously  consulted  for  the  pre 
servation  of  their  power,  there  was  still  found  among 
the  members  of  the  Legislature  the  ordinary  propor 
tion  of  men  who  think  of  nothing  but  the  enjoyment 
of  the  present  moment.  Such  men  are  often  like 
sailors  in  a  storm,  who,  becoming  desperate,  break 
into  the  spirit  room,  and  drink  the  more  eagerly 
because  they  drink  for  the  last  time.  When  the 
devil's  "time  is  short,  he  has  great  wrath;"  and  this 
point  in  his  character  he  always  displays,  whether 
he  exhibits  himself  in  the  form  of  cruelty,  rapacity, 
or  debauchery. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  67 

The  amusements,  therefore,  of  the  legislators 
assembled  at  Richmond  suifered  little  interruption, 
and  the  dinner  and  the  galas,  the  ball  and  the  thea 
tre,  and  the  gaming-table,  with  revel,  dissipation, 
and  extravagance,  consumed  the  time  of  the  servants 
of  the  country,  and  swallowed  up  the  wasted  plunder 
of  the  treasury. 

Respected  by  all,  beloved  by  individuals  of  both 
parties,  and  courted  by  that  to  which  he  was  sup 
posed  to  belong,  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor  was  an  object  of 
the  most  flattering  attention.  His  house  was  the 
favorite  resort  of  such  as  enjoyed  the  envied  privi 
lege  of  the  entree.  His  gallant  and  accomplished 
son  was  the  glass  before  which  aspirants  for  court 
favor  dressed  themselves.  The  budding  youth  of  his 
daughter  had,  for  years,  been  watched  with  impa 
tient  anticipation  of  the  time  when  her  hand  might 
be  seized  as  the  passport  to  present  wealth  and 
future  honor. 

Her  cousin  Delia  was  not  recommended  to  notice 
by  all  these  considerations  ;  but  the  most  prevailing 
of  the  whole  was  one  that  made  her  claims  to  atten 
tion  fully  equal  to  those  of  Virginia.  Her  father, 
though  in  comparatively  humble  circumstances, 
could  give  with  his  daughter  a  handsomer  dowry 
than  the  elder  and  wealthier  brother  could  afford 
\vith  his.  He  was  notorious  for  generosity,  and  his 
infirmities  made  it  probable  that  he  was  not  long 
for  this  world.  Delia  was  therefore  universally 
regarded  as  an  heiress.  Add  to  this,  that  in  the 


68  The  Partisan  Leader. 

affection  of  her  uncle  she  seemed  hardly  to  he  post 
poned  to  his  own  daughter,  and  it  was  ohvions  to 
anticipate  that  the  same  influence  which  had  pro 
cured  office  and  emolument  for  himself  and  his 
sons,  would  be  readily  exerted  in  favor  of  her  future 
husband. 

It  followed,  that,  whatever  were  the  amusements 
of  the  day,  whether  ball  or  theatre,  or  party  of 
pleasure  by  land  or  by  water,  the  presence  of  Delia 
and  Virginia  was  eagerly  sought.  The  latter,  simple 
and  artless,  saw  in  all  who  approached  her  the 
friends  of  her  father.  If  she  thought  at  all  of 
political  differences,  it  was  only  to  recognize  in  most 
of  them  the  adherents  of  the  man  to  whose  fortunes 
he  had  so  long  attached  himself,  and  in  whose 
fortunes  he  had  flourished.  To  all,  her  welcome 
was  alike  cordial  and  her  smile  always  bright. 

With  Delia,  the  case  was  far  different.  Much 
more  conversant  than  her  cousin  with  the  politics  of 
the  day,  she  was  aware  that  her  father  was  obnox 
ious  to  many  that  she  met.  On  some  of  those  who 
sought  her  favor,  she  knew  that  he  looked  with 
detestation  and  scorn.  To  such  she  was  as  cold  and 
repulsive  as  a  real  lady  can  ever  permit  herself  to  be 
to  one  who  approaches  her  as  a  gentleman  in  genteel 
society.  The  height  of  the  modern  mode  would? 
indeed,  have  countenanced  in  such  cases  that  sort  of 
negative  insolence,  the  practice  of  which  is  regarded 
as  the  most  decisive  indication  of  high  breeding. 
But  she  had  been  trained  in  a  different  school.  She 


The  Partisan  Leader.  69 

had  been  taught  that,  in  society,  self-respect  is  the 
first  duty  of  woman ;  and  that  the  only  inviolable 
safeguard  for  that,  is  a  care  never  to  offend  the  self- 
respect  of  others. 

Thus,  while  a  part  of  those  who  approached  her, 
were  made  to  feel  that  their  attentions  were  not 
acceptable,  she  never  afforded  them  occasion  to 
complain  of  any  want  of  courtesy  on  her  part. 
Without  being  rebuffed,  they  felt  themselves  con 
strained  to  stand  aloof.  There  was  nothing  of  which 
they  could  complain  ;  no  pretext  for  resentment — 
no  opening  for  sarcasm — no  material  for  scandal. 

But  in  proportion  to  the  impotence  of  malice,  so 
is  the  malignity  of  its  hoarded  venom.  All  were 
aware  of  the  political  opinions  and  connexions  of 
Mr.  Bernard  Trevor ;  and  it  was  easy  to  make 
remarks  in  the  presence  of  his  daughter,  not  only 
offensive,  but  painful  to  her  feelings.  To  this  pur 
pose,  no  allusion  to  him  was  necessary.  It  was 
enough  to  speak  injuriously  of  those  whom  she 
knew  to  be  his  friends,  and  whose  public  characters 
made  them  legitimate  subjects  of  applause  or  cen 
sure.  By  this,  and  other  means  of  the  like  character, 
she  was  always  open  to  annoyance ;  and  to  such 
means  the  dastard  insolence  of  those  whom  her 
coldness  had  repelled,  habitually  resorted  for  revenge. 
On  such  occasions  she  frequently  found  that  her 
cousin  Douglas  came  to  her  aid.  Unrestrained  by 
the  considerations  that  imposed  silence  on  her,  lie 
was  always  ready  to  speak  on  behalf  of  the  party 


yo  The  Partisan  Leader. 

attacked.  If  he  could  not  directly  vindicate,  he 
would  palliate  or  excuse.  If  even  this  were  incon 
sistent  with  his  own  opinions,  he  would  take  occasion 
to  speak  approvingly  of  the  talents  or  private  worth 
of  those  who  were  assailed.  "Whether  she  regarded 
this  as  a  proof  of  good  breeding,  or  of  kindness  to 
herself,  or  of  an  incipient  change  in  his  opinions, 
such  conduct  always  commanded  her  gratitude  and 
approbation. 


The  Partisan  Leader.*  71 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 

He  was,  in  logic,  a  great  critic, 

Profoundly  skilled  in  analytic. 

He  could  distinguish  and  divide 

A  hair,  'twixt  south  and  southwest  side. 

HUDIBBAS. 

AMONG  those  who  had  thus  manifested  a  disposi 
tion  to  win  the  favor  of  Delia  Trevor,  was  a  young 
man  who  had,  not  long  since,  entered  public  life 
under  the  auspices  of  a  father,  who,  fifteen  years 
before,  had  openly  bartered  his  principles  for  office. 
Besides  some  talent,  the  son  possessed  the  yet  higher 
merit,  in  the  eyes  of  his  superiors,  of  devotion  to  his 
party  and  its  leader.  He  never  permitted  himself 
to  be  restrained,  by  any  regard  to  time  or  place, 
from  making  his  zeal  conspicuous.  Taught,  from 
his  infancy,  that  the  true  way  to  recommend  his  pre 
tensions  was  to  rate  them  highly  himself,  he  seemed 
determined  never  to  exchange  his  place  in  the 
Legislature  for  any  in  the  gift  of  the  Court,  unless 
some  distinguished  station  should  be  offered  'to  his 
acceptance.  For  any  such,  in  any  department,  he 
was  understood  to  be  a  candidate. 

At  first,  he  supposed  that  a  private  intimation  to 
this  effect,  through  his  father,  would  be  all-sufficient. 


72  The  Partisan  Leader. 

But  he  was  overlooked,  and  post  after  post,  that  he 
would  gladly  have  accepted,  was  conferred  on 
others.  Fearful  that  he  might  be  deemed  deficient 
in  zeal,  he  redoubled  his  diligence,  and  with 
increased  eagerness  sought  every  opportunity  to 
display  his  talents  and  his  ardor  in  the  service  of  his 
master.  Still  he  seemed  no  nearer  to  his  object. 
Whether  it  was  thought  that  he  was  most  serviceable 
in  his  actual  station,  or  that  the  wily  President 
deemed  it  a  needless  waste  of  patronage  to  buy 
what  was  his  by  hereditary  title  and  gratuitous 
devotion,  it  is  hard  to  say.  The  gentleman  some 
times  seemed  on  the  point  of  becoming  malcontent ; 
but  his  father,  who  had  trained  him  in  the  school  of 
Sir  Pertinax  McSycophant,  convinced  him  that 
more  was  to  be  got  by  "  booing,"  and  resolute 
subserviency  and  flattery  of  the  great,  than  in  any 
other  way.  Under  such  impressions,  he  would 
kindle  anew  the  fervor  of  his  zeal  and  send  up  his 
incense  in  clouds.  Again  disappointed,  and  sicken 
ing  into  the  moroseness  of  hope  deferred,  he  would 
become  moody  and  reserved,  as  if  watching  for  an 
opportunity  of  profitable  defection. 

Such  an  opportunity,  at  such  a  moment,  had 
seemed  to  present  itself  in  his  acquaintance  with 
Delia  Trevor.  A  connection  with  her  seemed 
exactly  suited  to  his  interested  and  ambidextrous 
policy.  A  handsome  and  amiable  girl  were  items 
in  the  account  of  secondary  consideration.  But  her 
fortune  was  not  to  be  overlooked.  Then,  should  his 


The  Partisan  Leader.  73 

services,  at  length,  seem  likely  to  meet  their  long 
deserved  reward,  she  could  be  presented  to  the 
court  as  the  niece  of  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor,  the  tried  and 
cherished  friend  of  the  President.  Should  the  cold 
ingratitude  of  his  superiors  at  length  drive  him  into 
the  opposition  for  advancement,  he  was  sure  of  being 
well  received  as  the  son-in-law  of  a  patriot  so 
devoted  as  Mr.  Bernard  Trevor.  Utrinque  paratus, 
could  he  secure  the  hand  of  Delia,  he  felt  sure  that 
he  must  win,  let  the  cards  fall  as  they  might. 

Having  taken  this  view  of  the  subject,  and 
examined  it  in  all  its  bearings,  he  made  up  to  Delia 
with  a  directness  which  startled,  and  a  confidence 
that  offended  her.  But  the  gentleman  had  little  to 
recommend  him  to  the  favor  of  the  fair.  His  person 
was  awkward,  and  disfigured  by  .a  mortal  stoop. 
His  features,  at  once  diminutive  and  irregular,  were 
either  shrouded  with  an  expression  of  solemn  import 
ance,  or  set  off  by  a  smile  of  yet  more  offensive  self- 
complacency.  His  manners  bore  the  same  general 
character  of  conceit,  alternately  pert  and  grave  ;  and 
his  conversation  wavered  between  resolute,  though 
abortive,  attempts  at  wit,  and  a  sort  of  chopt  logic, 
elaborately  employed  in  proving,  by  incontestable 
arguments,  what  nobody  ever  pretended  to  deny, 
lie  had  been  taught  by  his  learned  and  astute 
father,  to  lay  his  foundations  so  deep  that  his 
arguments  and  the  patience  of  his  hearers  were  apt 
to  be  exhausted  by  the  time  he  got  back  to  the 
surface  of  tilings.  Yet  he  reasoned  with  great 

4 


74  The  Partisan  Leader 

precision,  and  rarely  failed  to  establish,  as  unques 
tionable,  the  premises  from  which  other  men  com 
mon  \j  begin  to  reason. 

This  talent,  and  this  use  of  it,  are  more  applauded 
by  the  world  than  one  would  think.  Men  like  to  be 
confirmed  in  their  opinions  ;  and,  the  fewer  and 
more  simple  these  may  be,  the  more  grateful  are 
they  for  anything  that  looks  like  a  demonstration  of 
their  truth.  To  a  man  whose  knowledge  of  arithme 
tic  only  extends  to  the  profound  maxim  "  that  two 
and  two  make  four,"  how  gratifying  to  find  a  dis 
tinguished  man  condescending  to  prove  it  by  elabo 
rate  argument ! 

But  ladies  have  little  taste  for  these  things,  and 
still  less  for  the  harsh  dogmatism  and  fierce  denun 
ciations  of  hostile,  but  absent  politicians,  with  which 
Mr.  P.  Baker,  the  younger,  occasionally  varied  his 
discourse.  To  Delia,  therefore,  the  gentleman,  in 
and  of  himself,  and  apart  from  all  extrinsic  consi 
derations,  was  absolutely  disagreeable.  His  first 
advances  drove  her  within  the  safe  defences  of 
female  pride  and  reserve.  But  when  the  manifest 
audacity  of  his  pretensions  led  her  to  think  of  him 
as  the  supple  slave  of  power,  as  one  who  had  prosti 
tuted  himself  to  the  service  of  his  master,  with  an 
eagerness  which  condemned  his  zeal  to  be  its  own 
reward,  her  disgust  increased  to  loathing,  and  her 
pride  was  kindled  into  resentment.  Without  show 
ing  more  of  these  feelings  than  became  her,  she 
showed  enough  to  make  her  the  object  of  his  iriso- 


The  Partisan  Leader.  75 

lent  and  malignant  hatred.  But  she  was  fortified 
by  her  position  in  a  family  which  he  dared  not 
offend,  and  his  paltry  malice  found  vent  in  such 
allusions  to  the  politics  of  the  day  as  he  knew  must 
wound  her. 

Things  were  about  coming  to  this  pass,  when 
Douglas  Trevor  arrived.  The  first  time  he  met  Mr. 
Baker  in  company  with  his  cousin,  lie  saw  a  disposi 
tion  on  his  part  to  pay  attentions  which  were  obvi 
ously  annoying  to  her.  Both  duty  and  inclination 
impelled  him  to  come  to  her  relief;  and,  in  doing 
this,  he  awakened  the  jealousy  and  incurred  the  dis 
pleasure  of  the  gentleman.  But  these  were  feelings 
he  had  no  mind  to  display  toward  one  who  wore  a 
sword,  and  especially  toward  the  son  of  a  man  so 
influential  at  Washington  as  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor.  He 
accordingly  drew  off,  in  morose  discomfiture,  and 
Delia,  relieved  from  his  offensive  attentions,  felt  that 
she  owed  her  deliverance  to  her  cousin.  He  was,  of 
course,  bound  to  occupy  the  place  at  her  side  from 
which  he  had  driven  Baker  ;  and  she  was  bound  to 
requite  the  service  by  making  the  duty  he  had  im 
posed  on  himself  as  little  irksome  as  possible.  She 
exerted  herself  to  be  agreeable,  and  succeeded  so 
well,  that  Douglas  went  to  bed  that  night  in  the 
firm  belief  that  he  had  never  passed  a  more  pleasant 
evening,  or  seen  a  girl  of  more  charming  manners 
than  Delia. 

This  circumstance  led  to  a  sort  of  tacit  convention, 
which  established  him  in  the  character  of  her  spe- 


76  The  Partisan  Leader. 

cial  attendant,  in  all  parties  where  Mr.  Baker  made 
his  appearance.  By  an  easy  progress,  this  engage 
ment  was  extended  to  all  societies  and  all  places. 
He  knows  little  of  human  nature  who  needs  to  be 
told  the  natural  consequences  of  these  tilings. 

But,  leaving  the  reader  to  form  his  own  judgment, 
and  to  anticipate  such  result  as  he  may,  my  present 
business  is  with  the  repulsed  and  irritated  Baker, 
Though  it  consoled  his  pride  and  self-love  to  im 
pute  his  discomfitures,  not  to  any  absolute  dislike  of 
himself,  but  to  a  preference  for  another,  there  was 
nothing  in  that  preference  to  soothe  his  resentment. 
As  Douglas  had,  in  the  first  instance,  come  some 
what  cavalierly  between  him  and  the  object  of  his 
wishes,  he,  perhaps,  had  reasonable  grounds  of  dis 
pleasure  against  him.  But,  as  it  might  be  quite 
inconvenient  to  give  vent  to  his  feelings  in  that 
direction,  they  were  carefully  repressed.  In  such 
assaults  on  those  of  the  lady,  as  her  cousin  might 
not  observe,  or  might  think  it  unwise  to  notice,  did 
his  malice  indulge  itself. 

So  matters  stood  when  the  astounding  intelligence 
reached  Richmond,  that  a  diplomatic  agent  from  the 
State  of  South  Carolina  had  been  long,  secretly  en 
tertained  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  and  that  he 
was  supposed  to  have  negotiated  an  informal  ar 
rangement  for  a  commercial  treaty  between  that 
government  and  the  confederacy  then  forming  in 
the  South.  Something  was  rumored  as  to  the  terms 
of  the  contemplated  treaty,  which  filled  the  whole 


The   Partisan  Leader.  77 

northern  faction  in  Virginia  with  consternation. 
It  was  feared  that  that  State  could  not  be  with 
held  from  joining  the  Southern  League,  except  by 
force,  and  that,  in  a  contest  of  force,  she  would 
be  backed,  not  only  by  the  southern  States,  but 
by  the  power  of  Great  Britain. 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

"  If  I  Lad  known  he  had  been  go  cunning  of  fence,  I'd  have  seen 
trim  damned  ere  I  had  fought  with  him." 

OLD  PLAY. 

IT  was  now  the  month  of  February ;  and  a  plea 
sant  day  had  tempted  our  young  people  to  a  jaunt 
of  amusement  to  the  head  of  the  falls.  Mr.  Baker, 
stealing  away  from  his  duties  as  a  legislator,  was 
one  of  the  party.  Repulsed  by  Delia,  he  was  begin 
ning  an  attempt  on  the  heart  of  Virginia,  of  whose 
loyalty,  as  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor,  he 
could  entertain  no  doubt. 

Here  his  reception  would  have  been  little  better 
than  with  the  other,  had  not  Virginia  been  held  in 
check  by  a  respect  for  the  supposed  opinions  of  her 
father.  Born  at  the  very  moment  when  the  good 
old  gentleman  was  in  the  act  of  making  up  his  mind 
to  sacrifice  the  sovereignty  of  his  native  State  to  the 
necessity  of  preserving  the  Union,  he  seemed  to 
seize  on  the  opportunity  of  compensating  the  impiety 
to  which  he  felt  himself  driven,  by  giving  to  his 
infant  daughter  the  name  he  had  so  long  cherished 
and  honored.  It  was  a  moment  of  one  of  those  re 
lentings  of  the  heart,  in  which  nature  asserts  her 


The  Partisan  Leader.  79 

supremacy,  and  compels  its  homage  to  those  whom 
we  have  been  accustomed  to  reverence  and  obey. 
If  even  the  prodigal  or  the  *raitor  be  subject  to  be 
so  affected,  how  much  stronger  must  be  such  an  im 
pulse  in  the  mind  of  a  pure  and  upright  man,  impel 
led  by  a  sense  of  duty  to  his  country  to  dishonor  her 
venerated  name.  This  poor  tribute  was  as  the  kiss 
of  peace  with  which  the  executioner  implores  the 
pardon  of  some  illustrious  victim  of  State  policy,  who 
is  about  to  bleed  under  his  hand.  Had  he  yielded 
to  his  feelings,  he  would  have  taken  up  the  self- 
iccusing  lamentation  of  the  returned  prodigal.  But 
his  sense  of  duty  was  deep  and  abiding,  and  was 
always  most  sure  to  command  his  exact  obedience 
when  the  duty  was  most  painful.  He  could  not 
doubt  the  correctness  of  a  conviction,  which  even 
his  cherished  devotion  to  his  native  State  could  not 
make  him  shake  off  entirely.  In  such  a  case,  t 
doubt  was,  with  him,  to  be  convinced. 

But  the  name  thus  bestowed  upon  his  daughter 
was  not  without  an  effect  on  her  mind.  She  knew 
little  of  politics,  but,  from  her  very  infancy,  self-love 
had  made  her  jealous  of  the  honor  of  the  State  whose 
name  she  lore.  The  name  itself  was  a  spell  of  power 
011  the  heart  of  Delia.  It  had  disposed  her  to  love 
her  cousin  before  she  knew  her.  It  had  drawn  them 
together  on  their  first  acquaintance,  and  had  often 
been  the  theme  of  conversation  between  them. 
Somewhat  older,  and  much  the  superior  in  intellec 
lual  power,  Delia  had  unwittingly  exercised  an 


80  The  Partisan  Leader. 

influence  over  the  mind  of  Virginia  which  inclined 
her  to  listen  favorably  to  all  that  could  be  urged 
against  the  usurper's  claim  to  a  dominion,  unchecked 
by  the  authority  of  the  State. 

For  more  than  a  year  past,  Mr.  Trevor  had  him 
self  begun  to  doubt  the  wisdom  of  his  former 
opinions.  Doubting,  he  was  silent,  but  he  had  not 
been  unwilling  to  subject  his  daughter  to  the  action 
of  her  cousin's  more  vigorous  mind.  For  many 
years,  he  would  as  soon  have  exposed  his  children 
to  the  contagion  of  the  plague,  as  permit  them  to 
visit  their  uncle.  During  the  last  summer  he  had 
suffered  Arthur  and  Virginia  to  spent  a  month  with 
him ;  and  he  was  not  sorry  to  observe  that  the 
former  came  home  with  deeper  thoughts  than  he 
chose  to  express.  Of  their  love  and  admiration  of 
their  uncle  neither  made  any  secret.  He  was  not 
only  unlike  their  father,  but  so  unlike  any  other 
man,  that  he  had  been  a  curious  study  to  them 
during  their  whole  visit.  The  originality  of  his 
thoughts,  and  the  vividness  with  which  he  expressed 
them,  afforded  them  constant  amusement.  He  had 
that  faculty  of  making  truth  look  like  truth,  in  the 
exhibition  of  which  the  young  mind  so  much 
delights.  Then  he  was  so  frank,  so  ardent,  and 
withal  so  kind,  that  it  was  impossible  to  know  and 
not  to  love  him. 

After  all  this,  the  reader  will  not  be  like  to  par 
take  of  the  surprise  of  Mr.  Philip  Baker,  when  he 
found,  on  shifting  his  battery,  that  he  was  not  much 


The  Partisan  Leader.  81 

more  in  favor  with  Virginia  Trevor  than  with  her 
cousin.  The  consequence  was,  that  whenever  he 
attempted,  in  company,  to  attach  himself  to  the  im 
mediate  party  of  these  young  ladies,  he  was  apt  to 
find  himself  a  supernumerary.  But,  as  Virginia 
had  shown  no  marked  dislike  to  him,  his  vanity 
easily  adopted  the  idea  that  she  considered  him  as 
the  property  of  Delia.  He  took  some  pains  to 
undeceive  her,  and  would  have  been  mortified  at 
her  unconcern  on  the  occasion,  had  he  not  thought 
some  allowance  should  he  made  for  her  indifference 
to  a  man  who  did  but  take  her  as  a  pis  alter.  He 
did  not,  therefore,  at  once  withdraw  himself  from 
their  coterie,  but  continued  to  hang  about,  and  take 
his  part  in  conversation,  whenever  nothing  particu 
larly  exclusive  in  the  manner  of  the  interlocutors 
forbade  it.  He  could  not  come  between  whispers ; 
but  he  could  answer  any  observation  that  met  his  ear. 
Being,  as.  I  have  said,  something  between  a  prose^ 
and  a  declairner,  he  thought  himself  eloquent,  am. 
would  seize  occasions  to  hold  forth  to  the  general  edi 
fication,  in  a  style  intended  to  dazzle  the  bystanders. 
On  the  day  of  which  we  speak,  he  had  been  in 
close  attendance  on  Virginia,  until,  rather  by  address 
than  by  direct  repulse,  she  had  contrived  to  shake 
him  off.  Is  so  happened,  that  the  rest  of  the  com 
pany  were  all  paired  off,  leaving  him  in  the  enviable 
condition  of  a  half  pair  of  shears,  when  relief 
appeared  in  the  person  of  a  gentleman  just  from 
Richmond. 


82  The  Partisan  Leader. 

Tins  gentleman,  originally  one  of  the  devisers  of 
tliQpic  nic,  had  stayed  behind  for  the  mail,  and  now 
arrived  with  the  news  alluded  to  in  the  last  chapter. 
Baker,  being  disengaged  at  the  moment,  was  the 
first  to  receive  the  intelligence,  and  he  lost  no  time 
in  awakening-  the  attention  of  the  company  by  vol 
leys  of  oaths  and  imprecations.  "While  he  continued 
to  exercise  himself  in  calling  down  the  vengeance 
of  "  the  Eternal,"  according  to  the  most  approved 
formula  of  the  old  court,  on  those  whom  he  de 
nounced  as  traitors,  the  rest  listened  in  amazement, 
disgust,  or  alarm,  to  this  boisterous  effusion  of  his 
rage.  At  length,  as  he  stopped  to  take  breath, 
Douglas  availed  himself  of  the  pause  to  ask  what 
was  the  matter.  The  whole  story  now  came  out, 
and  Mr.  Baker,  having  put  his  audience  in  posses 
sion  of  his  text,  went  on  with  his  discourse.  Un 
mindful  of  the  presence  of  the  ladies,  he  vented  his 
wrath  in  language  with  which  I  do  not  choose  to 
stain  my  paper.  Every  man  who  had  held  a  con 
spicuous  place  among  the  advocates  of  State  rights 
for  the  last  twenty  years,  was  condemned,  ex  cathe 
dra.  The  dead  were  especially  recommended  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  the  devil,  in  whose  clutches  he 
supposed  them  to  ~be ;  while  the  living  were  indis 
criminately  devoted  to  the  same  doom. 

Against  the  person  by  whom  the  treaty  was  said 
to  have  been  negotiated,  his  wrath  burned  most 
fiercely.  lu  the  midst  of  one  of  his  most  savage 
denunciations  of  that  gentleman,  he  happened  to 


The  Partisan  Leader.  83 

recollect  having  heard  Delia  speak  of  him  as  the 
intimate  friend  of  her  father.  The  thought  turned 
his  eye  upon  her.  She  was  already  pale  and  trem 
blirig  with  emotion,  when  she  caught  his  insulting 
glance.  In  an  instant  the  blood  gushed  to  her  face, 
and  tears  to  her  eyes.  He  saw  it,  and  went  on  to 
comprehend  in  his  denunciation  all  the  aiders,  abet 
tors,  and  friends  of  the  traitor,  whom  in  one  breath 
he  devoted  to  the  gallows. 

This  was  more  than  Delia  conld  bear,  and  more 
than  Douglas  was  disposed  to  suffer.  He  had  caught 
the  glance  which  Baker  had  cast  at  his  cousin ;  he 
saw  the  effect  on  her  feelings ;  he  witnessed  her  in 
creasing  emotion,  and  felt  it  his  duty  to  come  to  her 
relief.  He  approached  Baker,  and  passing  him,  as 
if  with  no  particular  design,  touched  him  gently, 
and  said  in  a  low  voice:  "Such  language  is  im 
proper  in  this  company." 

"  How  so,"  exclaimed  Baker,  aloud.  "  I  hope  there 
is  no  man  here  disposed  to  take  the  part  of  a  traitor/ 

Douglas  turned,  and,  biting  his  lip,  said  in  a  tone 
not  loud,  but  from  its  distinctness  and  marked 
emphasis,  audible  to  all  present :  "  I  spoke  so  as  to 
be  heard  by  none  but  you,  and  invited  you  by  a 
sign  to  go  apart,  where  I  might  explain  my  meaning 
in  private.  But,  as  you  will  have  the  explanation 
here,  I  say,  that  you  know  there  is  no  man  here  dis 
posed  to  take  the  part  of  a  traitor.  If  you  had 
thought  there  was,  sir,  I  suspect  your  denunciations 
would  have  been  less  violent." 


84  The   Partisan  Leader. 

"  I  don't  understand  you,  sir,"  said  Baker,  red 
dening. 

"  My  meaning  is  as  plain  as  becomes  this  pre 
sence,"  said  Douglas,  coldly,  and  again  walking 
away.  Baker  looked  around,  and  read  in  every  eye 
that  he  was  expected  to  follow.  He  did  so,  and, 
joining  Douglas,  they  both  walked  on  together. 

u  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  a  farther  explanation, 
sir,"  said  he  in  an  agitated  tone. 

"  Speak  lower,  then,"  replied  Douglas,  calmly, 
slipping  his  arm  within  that  of  Baker;  "  and  use  no 
gesture.  My  meaning  is  this:  That  he  who  is 
regardless  of  the  presence  and  feelings  of  a  lady,  is 
not  apt  to  overlook  those  of  a  man.  To  make  my 
meaning  yet  plainer,  sir,  your  language  would  have 
been  more  guarded,  had  my  uncle  been  represented 
here,  not  by  a  daughter,  but  by  a  son" 

The  quiet  tone  of  Douglas's  voice,  the  equivocal 
meaning  of  the  first  words  he  had  uttered,  and  the 
pacific  action  intended  to  deceive  those  who  looked 
on,  had  calmed  for  a  moment  the  alarm  of  Baker, 
lie  had  recovered  himself  before  he  was  made  to 
perceive  what  was  really  meant ;  arid  ere  he  had 
time  to  reflect  on  his  situation,  the  dangerous  temp 
tation  of  a  repartee  assailed  him.  Glancing  back  at 
the  company,  he  said:  "  If  I  may  judge  by  appear 
ances,  sir,  you  have  the  right  as  well  as  the  inclina 
tion  to  assume  that  character." 

Douglas  had  turned  his  head,  instinctively,  as 
Baker  looked  back,  and  saw  that  they  had  rounded 


The  Partisan  Leader.  85 

a  point  of  rock,  and  were  out  of  sight.  In  an  in 
stant,  he  disengaged  his  arm  with  a  push  that  nearly 
threw  the  legislator  down  the  bank,  and  stepping 
back,  glared  upon  him  with  an  eye  that  instantly 
brought  the  other  to  his  senses.  "While  he  stood 
blenching  and  cowering  under  this  fierce  glance, 
Douglas  recovered  his  self-command,  and  said,  with 
stern  calmness :  "  You  had  nearly  made  me  forget 
myself,  sir.  But  we  understand  each  other  now. 
Take  a  turn  along  the  shore  to  compose  yourself.  I 
will  wait  here  for  you,  and  we  will  return  to  the 
company  together." 

He  seated  himself  on  a  rock,  and  the  other  obeyed 
mechanically.  How  he  succeeded  in  recovering 
his  composure  is  another  affair.  He  walked  on,  and 
on,  and  fain  would  he  have  followed  the  course  of 
the  river  to  the  mountain  cave  from  which  it  issues, 
there  to  hide  himself  from  the  consequences  of  his 
own  folly  and  impertinence.  What  would  he  not 
have  given  to  recall  that  last  speech?  Until  then, 
he  was  the  party  aggrieved.  Douglas's  offence 
against  him  had  not  been  so  gross  as  to  admit  of  no 
explanation ;  and,  to  all  appearance,  an  amicable 
one  had  been  given.  The  truth  might  not  have 
come  out  until  he  had  had  time  to  escape  to  his 
constituents;  and  before  the  next  session  the  affair 
might  have  been  forgotten.  But  now,  Douglas  had 
been  insulted,  and  how  he  felt  and  how  he  would 
resent  the  insult,  was  awfully  certain. 

Baker  continued   his  walk   so    far,   that  the  girls 


86  The  Partisan  Leader. 

became  uneasy  at  the  absence  of  the  two  young 
men.  They  begged  some  of  the  gentlemen  to  go  in 
quest  of  them,  but  the  request  was  evaded.  At  last, 
they  arose  from  their  seats  on  the  rocks,  and  declared 
they  would  themselves  go.  They  accordingly  set 
out  followed  by  the  rest,  and  in  a  few  yards  came  to 
where  Douglas  was  quietly  seated  on  a  flat  stone, 
and  playing  checks  with  pebbles  on  the  smooth 
sand. 

"Where  is  Mr.  Baker?"  exclaimed  Virginia, 
eagerly. 

"  Yonder  he  goes,"  replied  Douglas,  calmly.  "  He 
has  a  mind  for  a  longer  walk  than  I  like ;  and  I  am 
just  waiting  for  him  here.  But  I  must  not  detain 
you,  girls.  His  taste  for  the  picturesque  will  pro 
bably  be  satisfied  by  the  time  we  get  to  our  horses, 
and  he  will  soon  overtake  us." 

He  said  this  with  an  air  so  careless  as  to  deceive 
every  person  present  but  Delia.  But  the  heart  will 
speak  from  the  eye,  and  a  glance  at  her,  as  she 
searched  his  countenance,  unconsciously  said :  "  I 
have  redressed  you."  Coloring  deeply,  she  strove 
to  hide  her  emotion, — taking  his  arm  and  busying 
herself  at  the  same  time  with  the  adjustment  of  her 
veil.  In  spite  of  some  undefined  apprehensions,  she 
was  grateful,  relieved,  and  pleased ;  and  a  slight 
pressure  on  the  arm  she  held,  spoke  her  feelings 
perhaps  as  distinctly  as  they  were  understood  by 
herself. 

Douglas  returned  the  pressure  with  more  energy 


The  Partisan  Leader.  87 

The  words  of  Baker  yet  tingled  in  his  ears ;  and 
while  they  burned  with  the  insult,  the  pain  was  more 
than  soothed  by  the  thoughts  they  had  awakened. 
Were  then  the  day-dreams  of  his  boyhood  to  become 
realities  ?  He  was  not,  as  yet,  conscious  of  any  but 
a  cousin's  love  for  Delia.  He  could  impute  no  other 
feeling  to  her.  Bat  should  this  mutual  affection 
ripen  into  a  more  tender  sentiment !  With  whom 
could  a  man  pass  his  days  more  happily,  than  with  a 
woman  so  intelligent,  so  amiable,  so  prudent,  so 
much  a  lady  ?  He  did  not  love  her.  But  he  felt 
that  to  love  her,  and  be  beloved  by  her,  would  be  a 
happy  lot.  The  slight  weight  she  rested  on  his  arm 
was  sweet  to  him.  He  wished  the  pressure  was 
heavier.  But  she  walked  on,  self-poised,  and  with 
a  light  and  steady  step  over  the  rugged  ground. 
Was  not  that  step  more  confident,  because  she  felt 
that  he  was  there  to  aid  her  in  case  of  need  ?  Even 
so,  she  seemed  sufficient  for  herself  in  the  resources 
of  her  own  mind.  Yet  had  she  needed  and  accepted, 
and  gratefully,  though  silently,  acknowledged  his 
protection.  He  was  happy  in  having  had  occasion 
to  protect  her.  Was  not  she  the  happier  for  it 
too?  The  heart  will  ask  questions.  Time  gives 
the  answer. 


88  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTER    X. 


Oh  I  speak  it  not ! 


Let  silence  be  the  tribute  of  your  homage ! 
The  mute  respect,  that  gives  not  woman's  name 
To  the  rude  breath,  which,  trumpeting  her  praises, 
Taints  by  applauding. 

ANONYMOUS, 

A  FEW  days  after,  Douglas  handed  his  cousin  the 
Allowing  paper : 

"Mr.  Baker  begs  leave  to  throw  himself  on  the 
mercy  of  Miss  Delia  Trevor.  He  confesses  his 
offence  against  her  on  Saturday  last.  He  admits, 
with  shame,  that  he  did  intend  to  wound  her  feel 
ings,  and  that  he  has  nothing  to  offer  in  extenuation 
of  his  offence.  He  does  not  even  presume  to  ask  a 
pardon,  which  he  acknowledges  to  be  unmerited, 
and  respectfully  tenders  the  only  atonement  in  his 
power,  by  assuring  Miss  Trevor  that  he  will  never 
again,  intentionally,  offend  her  by  his  presence. 

Signed,  PHILIP  BAKER." 

Delia  read  this  curious  document  in  silence,  and, 
on  looking  up,  found  that  Douglas  had  left  the  room. 
She  ran  after  him,  but  he  was  gone,  and  for  a  day  or 
two  avoided  any  opportunity  for  farther  explanation. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  89 

At  length  she  found  one,  and  asked  by  what  means 
the  paper  had  been  procured. 

"  By  proper  means,  my  dear  coz,"  said  he,  "  if 
the  paper  is  a  proper  one." 

"  Proper !"  exclaimed  she,  "  for  me  to  receive, 
certainly.  But  for  him  to  give !  Indeed,  I  pity  any 
poor  wretch  who  can  be  so  abject.  I  am  glad,  at 
least,  I  am  to  see  him  no  more.  I  should  find  it 
hard  to  behave  to  him  as  becomes  myself!" 

"It  would  be  hard,"  said  Douglas,  "but  as  you 
always  will  behave  as  becomes  yourself,  hard  though 
it  be,  it  was  right  you  should  be  spared  the  trial." 

"  This  is  your  doing  then  ?"  said  she. 

"No  questions,  coz,"  replied  Douglas.  "I  must 
behave  as  becomes  me  too." 

This  put  an  effectual  stop  to  farther  inquiry,  and 
the  slight  concealment  did  but  deepen  Delia's  sense 
of  the  service  Douglas  had  rendered  her.  While  she 
admired  the  delicacy  which,  at  once,  veiled  and 
adorned  his  chivalrous  character;  he,  on  his  part, 
felt  greater  pleasure  at  having  redressed  her  wrong, 
because  the  affair  had  taken  such  a  turn  as  to  conceal 
the  part  that  he  had  acted.  The  ties  thus  formed  in 
secret,  are  doubly  sacred  and  doubly  sweet.  The 
heart  involuntarily  classes  them  with  those  chaste 
mysteries  which  the  vulgar  eye  must  not  profane 
They  become  the  theme  of  thoughts  which  some 
times  rise  up,  and  kindle  the  cheek,  and  light  the 
eye,  and  then  sink  down  again  and  hide  themselves 
deep  in  the  silent  breast. 


QO  The  Partisan  Leader. 

But  this  privacy  was  destined  to  be  invaded  by 
one  person,  at  least ;  and  that,  the  very  one  from 
whom  Douglas  would  most  anxiously  have  concealed 
the  whole  affair.  Yet  there  was  no  person  to  whose 
tenderness,  delicacy,  and  affection  for  both  parties,  it 
could  have  been  more  fitly  confided.  In  short,  Mr. 
Trevor,  one  day,  placed  in  the  hands  of  his  son  a  let 
ter,  in  the  President's  own  hand-writing,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy : 

WASHINGTON,  March  3d,  1849. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  I  hasten  to  lay  before  you  a  piece 
of  information  which  touches  you  nearly.  Though  I 
receive  it  at  the  hands  of  one  who  has  the  highest 
claims  to  my  confidence,  I  yet  trust  it  will  prove  to 
have  originated  in  mistake. 

It  is  said  that  your  son,  Lieutenant  Trevor,  on 
receiving  the  news  of  the  late  treasonable  proceed 
ings  of  some  of  the  southern  States,  openly  vindi 
cated  them  ;  and  that  he  spoke  freely  in  defence  of 
the  principal  agent  in  their  most  wicked  attempt  to 
league  themselves  with  the  enemies  of  their  country* 
It  is  said,  moreover,  that,  in  doing  this,  he  insulted 
and  fastened  a  quarrel  on  one,  whom  I  have  great 
reason  to  esteem  for  his  uniform  devotion  to  the 
Union.  The  regular  course  for  such  a  charge  against 
an  officer,  holding  a  commission  in  the  army  of  the 
United  States,  is  one  which  I  would  not  willingly 
pursue,  in  the  case  of  the  son  of  one  of  my  earliest 
and  most  cherished  friends.  As  Lieutenant  Trevor 


The  Partisan  Leader.  91 

is  now  at  home,  on  furlough,  I  address  this  letter  to 
you  to  be  laid  before  him.  I  have  no  doubt  he  will 
readily  give  the  necessary  explanations,  and,  in  so 
doing,  afford  me  a  new  occasion  for  displaying  that 
regard  for  you  and  yours,  with  which  I  am, 
Dear  sir,  your  friend, 

MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  what  this  means  ?  "  said  the 
mild  old  gentleman  to  his  son. 

"  As  I  remember,"  replied  Douglas,  "  the  circum 
stances  under  which  I  heard  of  the  events  alluded  to, 
I  think,  I  can  give  a  guess  at  the  meaning.  It  mean? 
that  my  cousin  was  insulted,  in  my  presence,  and 
that  I  protected  her,  as  was  my  duty." 

"  And  how  does  it  happen  that  I  never  heard  of 
it?  Who  was  the  person,  and  what  has  become  of 
the  affair?" 

"  It  has  all  blown  over,"  said  Douglas,  "  and  I  had 
hardly  expected  it  would  ever  be  spoken  of  again. 
Delia  alone  knew  of  it  from  me,  as  it  was  right  she 
should.  I  have  never  mentioned,  nor  has  my  friend. 
I  am  sure  she  has  not ;  and  what  the  other  party  can 
promise  himself  from  the  exposure,  I  am  sure  I  can 
not  tell." 

u  The  thing  is  now  made  public,  at  all  events ; 
and  both  as  your  father,  and  as  the  friend  of  the 
President,  it  is  right  that  I  should  know  all  about 
it." 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  replied  Douglas,  "  you  shall  know 


9 2.  The  Partisan  Leader. 

all ;  and  when  you  do,  I  need  not  explain  why  I 
have  never  told  you  before." 

He  left  the  room,  and  soon  returned  with  a  bundle 
of  papers.  From  this  he  handed  one  to  his  father, 
which  proved  to  be  a  challenge,  in  the  most  approved 
form,  from  him,  the  said  Douglas  Trevor,  to  Philip 
Baker,  Esq.  Then  came  a  proposition  to  discuss 
from  the  other  party ;  then  a  flat  demand  of  apo 
logy,  or  the  alternative  of,  what  is  called,  gentle 
manly  satisfaction ;  then  an  offer  to  apologize ; 
then  the  paper  we  have  already  seen ;  and  then  the 
following : 

"  Philip  Baker  declares,  on  his  honor,  that  he  meant 
no  offence  to  Lieutenant  Trevor  by  any  words 
addressed  to  him  on  Saturday  last ;  and  that  he 
deeply  regrets  having  spoken  any  which  may 
have  sounded  offensively  in  the  ears  of  Lieutenant 
Trevor." 

"  This  will  do,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "  It  only  shows 
that  you  have  acted  as  became  a  soldier  and  a  gentle 
man.  These  papers  show  clearly  that  the  quarrel 
began  in  an  insult  to  your  cousin,  which  you  were 
bound  to  resent.  This  will  be  perfectly  satisfactory 
to  the  President." 

"  Doubtless  it  would  be,"  said  Douglas,  promptly ; 
"  but  so  much  of  the  affair  as  implicates  my  cousin's 
name  must  go  no  farther." 

"But  it  is  that,"  replied  Mr.  Trevor,  "  which 
shows  the  cause  of  the  quarrel.  The  other  papers 
only  show  that  you  fancied  an  intention  to  insult 


The  Partisan  Leader.  93 

where  none  existed.  This  would  tally  too  well  with 
what  the  President  has  heard." 

"Be  it  so,"  answered  Douglas  calmly.  "  If  the 
President  is  never  satisfied  till  I  furnish  a  paper 
which  is  to  blend  my  cousin's  name  with  a  public 
discussion,  he  must  remain  dissatisfied.  I  cannot 
help  it.  Better  to  have  suffered  the  insult  to  pass 
unnoticed,  than  to  make  a  lady's  name  the  theme  of 
guard-house  wit." 

"  Bless  you,  my  noble  boy,"  said  the  admiring 
father.  "  You  are  right,  and  there  is  no  help  for  it. 
But  what  shall  I  say  to  the  President  ?  " 

"  What  you  please.  The  conclusions  you  draw 
from  what  you  know,  he  is  welcome  to.  The  facts 
are  with  you." 

"  Certainly,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  after  a  musing 
pause  ;  "  certainly  he  will  trust  in  my  general  assur 
ance  that  his  information  is,  to  my  certain  knowledge, 
erroneous.  This  will  do.  It  must  be  sufficient." 

"It  must  do,"  said  Douglas,  "whether  it  will  or 
no.  In  the  mean  time,  my  dear  sir,  let  me  beg  that 
the  affair  may  go  no  farther,  even  in  the  family. 
Delia  alone  knows  of  it,  and  she  only  knows  as  much 
as  may  be  gathered  from  that  paper,  a  duplicate  of 
which  is  her's  by  right.  I  therefore  beg  that  you 
will  say  nothing  about  it,  even  to  her." 

And  he*  did  say  nothing  to  her;  but  Douglas 
observed  that  that  night,  when  she  held  up  her  lip 
for  his  paternal  kiss,  the  kind  old  gentleman  gave  it 
with  more  than  his  usual  tenderness.  He  held  her 


94  The  Partisan  Leader. 

off,  parted  the  hair  from  her  forehead,  gazed  earnestly 
and  affectionately  upon  her ;  and  then,  kissing  her 
again,  bade  God  bless  her,  in  a  voice  choked  with 
emotion.  From  that  moment,  she  was  to  him  as  a 
daughter. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  95 


CHAPTEE    XI. 

That  proud  humility — that  dignified  obedience.— BUBKE. 

THE  visit  of  Delia  to  her  uncle  now  drew  to  a 
close,  and  she  prepared  for  her  return  home.  It 
was  settled  that  she  should  be  accompanied  by 
Douglas,  Arthur,  and  Yirginia,  who  were  to  spend 
a  few  weeks  with  her  father. 

On  the  road,  Douglas  felt  more  and  more  the  duty 
and  the  privilege  of  being  the  protector  of  his 
cousin,  and,  by  the  time  they  reached  the  end  of 
their  journey,  he  had  discovered  that  the  latter  was 
as  precious  as  the  former  was  sacred.  Some  such 
thought  had  stolen  into  his  mind  while  he  was  yet 
at  home,  but  that  was  not  the  place  to  mention 
the  subject  to  her ;  and  he  had  determined  to  im 
pose  upon  himself  the  most  scrupulous  restraint, 
until  he  should  have  restored  her  honorably  to  her 
father's  arms. 

Two  days'  travel  brought  them  to  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Bernard  Trevor,  on  the  banks  of  the  Koanoke. 
They  found  him  laid  up  with  a  fit  of  the  gout, 
which,  while  it  confined  him  to  the  house,  produced 
its  usual  salutary  effect  on  his  general  health.  At 
the  sight  of  his  daughter  and  her  companions,  his 


96  The  Partisan  Leader. 

pain  was,  for  tlie  moment,  forgotten ;  and,  flinging 
away  his  flannels  and  crutches,  he  sprang  to  his 
feet  and  caught  her  in  his  arms.  At  the  same  time, 
Arthur  and  Yirginia  pressed  forward  for  their  wel 
come,  which  they,  in  their  turn,  received. 

Unfortunately,  Mr.  Trevor  was  not  the  only  one 
who  forgot  himself  at  the  sight  of  Delia.  Poor  old 
Carlo,  starting  from  his  slumbers  on  the  hearth-rug, 
had  recognized  his  young  mistress,  and  was  mani 
festing  his  joy  at  her  return  with  boisterous  fond 
ness,  when  one  of  his  feet  saluted  the  inflamed  toe 
of  his  master.  In  an  agony,  which  none  but  they 
who  have  felt  it  can  conceive,  the  old  gentleman 
sank  into  his  chair.  Here  he  remained  for  some 
minutes,  unconscious  of  every  thing  but  his  suffer 
ings,  while  the  soft  hand  of  his  daughter  replaced 
and  soothed  the  tortured  limb. 

At  length,  recovering  enough  to  look  around,  his 
eye  fell  on  Douglas,  who  stood  aloof,  waiting  to  be 
introduced.  Some  little  tag  of  military  foppery, 
which  always  clings  to  the  undress  of  an  officer, 
satisfied  Mr.  Trevor  who  he  was.  Stretching  out 
his  hand,  he  said :  "  Ah !  Douglas,  my  dear  boy  ! 
How  glad  I  am  to  see  you !  But  I  ought  not  to 
have  recognized  you,  you  dog  !  standing  back  there 
with  your  hat  under  your  arm,  as  if  waiting  your 
mm  of  presentation  at  a  levee.  Perhaps  you  don't 
remember  me.  I  certainly  should  not  have  known 
you,  but  for  the  circumstances  under  which  I  see 
you.  But  what  of  that  ?  Was  it  not  yesterday  you 


The  Partisan  Leader.  97 

were  sitting  on  my  knee,  and  hanging  about  my 
neck  ?  Yes,  it  was  yesterday  ;  though  we  have  both 
dreamed  a  great  deal  since.  But  dreams  must  give 
way  to  realities  ;  so  let  us  vote  it  yesterday,  and 
meet  to-day  as  we  parted  last  night." 

Tins  singular  accoste  had  the  desired  effect,  and 
Douglas  felt,  at  once,  as  if  he  had  been  with  his 
uncle  all  his  life. 

"  You  forget,  my  dear  sir,"  said  he,  "  that  I  was 
intercepted  by  one  whose  privilege,  I  am  sure,  you 
would  not  have  me  dispute,  though  he  has  abused  it 
so  cruelly." 

"  You  mean  the  dog  ?"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  u.  Poor 
old  Carlo  !  Come  to  your  master,  my  poor  fellow! 
No  ;  your  privilege  shall  never  be  invaded.  We  are 
both  past  service  now,  and  must  learn  to  sympathize 
with  each  other.  If  you  cannot  understand  the 
nature  of  a  gouty  toe,  I  hope  I  shall  always  have 
heart  enough  to  understand  yours.  Give  me  a  rough 
coat,  or  a  black  skin,  for  a  true  friend ;  one  that  will 
not  grudge  any  superior  advantages  that  I  may  pos 
sess.  Tom,"  added  he,  in  a  tone  of  marked  gentle 
ness,  "  the  fire  is  low.  No,  not  yourself,  old  man," 
he  continued,  as  the  negro  whom  he  addressed 
moved  toward  the  door  ;  "  not  you,  my  good  old 
friend.  Just  ring  the  bell,  and  let  one  of  those  lazy 
dogs  in  the  kitchen  bring  in  some  wood.  But  why 
don't  you  speak  to  your  master  Douglas  ?  I  am  sure 
you  remember  what  cronies  you  were,  when  you 
were  teaching  him  to  ride." 


98  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  I'm  mighty  proud  to  see  yon,  sir,"  said  the  old 
mail,  taking  the  offered  hand  of  Douglas,  with  an  air 
of  affectionate  humility.  "  But  it  was  not  my  place, 
sir,"  added  he,  answering  his  master's  words,  "  to 
speak  first.  I  made  sure  master  Douglas  would  re 
member  me  after  a  while."* 

"  I  do  remember  you,  Tom,"  said  Douglas,  cor 
dially,  "  and  many  a  time,  on  parade,  have  I  been 
thankful  to  you  for  teaching  me  to  hold  my  reins 
and  manage  my  horse." 

"  You  will  find  it  hard,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  gravely, 
u  to  convince  Torn  that  you  remember  him,  if  you 
call  him  by  that  name.  Tom  is  Delia's  daddy,  and 
Lucia's,  and  Arthur's,  and  Virginia's  daddy,  and  so 
will  be  to  the  day  of  his  death.  If  ever  he  ceases  to 
be  your  daddy,  too,  Douglas,  I  shall  move  to 
reconsider  the  vote  that  we  just  now  passed  unani 
mously." 

"  It  is  a  vice  the  northern  air  has  blown  upon 

*  I  crave  the  forbearance  of  all  critics,  who  have  taken  their  ideas 
of  a  Virginia  house-servant  from  Csesar  Thompson,  or  any  such  cari 
catures,  for  giving  Tom's  own  words,  and  his  own  pronunciation  of 
them.  It  is  not  my  fault  if  there  is  but  little  peculiarity  in  his  phrase 
ology.  His  language  was  never  elegant,  and  frequently  ungramrnati- 
cal.  But  he  spoke  better  than  the  peasantry  of  most  countries,  though 
he  said  some  things  that  a  white  man  would  not  say ;  perhaps,  be 
cause  he  had  some  feelings  to  which  the  white  man  is  a  stranger.  A 
white  man,  for  example,  would  have  said  he  was  glad  to  see  Douglas, 
whether  he  were  so  or  not.  Old  Tom  said  he  was  proud  to  see  him, 
because  he  was  proud  to  recognize  his  former  pet  in  the  handsome  and 
graceful  youth  before  him. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  99 

me,"  said  Douglas,  blushing.  "  I  felt  the  truth  of 
what  you  said  just  now,  and  am  not  more  sure  of 
being  affectionately  remembered  by  any  that  I  used 
to  know,  than  by  my  good  old  daddy." 

Mr.  Trevor  now  requested  Tom  to  see  that  the 
horses  of  the  travellers  were  properly  attended  to ; 
and  the  negro  left  the  room. 

"  What  a  graceful  and  gentlemanly  old  man  !" 
said  Douglas,  looking  after  him. 

"  His  manners,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  are  exactly 
suited  to  his  situation.  Their  characteristic  is  proud 
humility.  The  opposite  is  servile  sulkiness,  of  which, 
1  suspect,  Douglas,  you  have  seen  no  little." 

"  I  have  seen  nothing  else,"  said  Douglas,  "  among 
the  servants  in  the  North.  If  the  tempers  of  our 
negroes  were  as  ferocious,  and  their  feelings  as 
hostile,  we  should  have  to  cut  their  throats  in  self- 
defence  in  six  months." 

"  I  am  glad,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  that  you  have  not 
learned  to  sacrifice  your  own  experience  to  the  fan 
ciful  theories  of  the  Amis  de  Noirs,  at  least  on  this 
point.  The  time,  I  hope,  will  come  when  you  will 
see,  if  you  do  not  already,  the  fallacy  of  all  their  cant 
and  sophistry  on  the  subject  of  domestic  slavery. 
You  will  then  bless  God  that  your  lot  has  been  cast 
where  the  freedom  of  all,  who,  in  the  economy  of 
Providence,  are  capable  of  freedom,  is  rendered 
practicable  by  the  particular  form  in  which  the 
subordination  of  those  who  must  be  slaves  is 
cast." 


loo  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  I  am  not  sure,"  said  Douglas,  "  that  I  exactly 
comprehend  you." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  replied  the  uncle.  "  And  that 
reminds  me  that  I  am  trespassing  on  forbidden 
ground.  Just  there,  the  differences  of  opinion  be 
tween  your  father  and  myself  commence  ;  and  from 
that  point  they  diverge  so  much,  that  I  do  not  feel  at 
liberty  to  speak  to  his  son  on  certain  topics." 

"  But  why  not,  my  dear  sir  ?  You  surely  cannot 
expect  me  to  think  with  my  father  on  all  subjects; 
and  you  would  not  have  me  do  so,  when  you  thought 
him  wrong.  I  do  not  profess  to  be  deeply  studied 
in  these  matters  ;  but,  between  your  lights  and  his, 
I  might  hope  to  find  my  way  to  the  truth." 

"There  are  some  subjects,  Douglas,"  replied  Mr. 
Trevor,  with  solemnity,  "on  which  it  is  better  to  be 
in  error  than  to  differ,  totally  and  conscientiously, 
from  a  father.  Delia  is  but  a  girl ;  but  should  she 
have  come  back  to  me  changed  in  her  sentiments 
(opinions  she  cannot  have)  in  regard  to  certain  mat 
ters,  I  should  feel  that  I  had  been  grievously  wronged 
by  any  one  who  had  wrought  the  change.  I  know 
your  father  has  not  done  this ;  and  I  must  do  as  I 
would  be  done  by,  and  as  I  am  sure  I  have  been 
done  by." 

"  I  cannot  conceive,"  said  Douglas,  "  what  sort  of 
subjects  those  can  be,  concerning  which  error  in  opi 
nion  is  better  than  truth,  under  any  circumstances." 

"Those,"  replied  Mr.  Trevor,  "in  which  truth 
would  bring  duty  in  conflict  with  duty." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  101 

"  Nay,  then,"  said  Douglas,  "  there  is  no  danger 
of  my  conversion  in  such  cases.  I  should  take  that 
as  an  infallible  proof  that  doctrines  leading  to  such 
consequences  must  be  lalse." 

"Your  proposed  test  of  truth  is  so  specious," 
observed  Mr.  Trevor,  "  that  I  will  go  so  far  as  to  say 
one  word  to  convince  you  of  its  fallacy.  If  ever  I 
take  you  in  hand,  my  lad,  my  first  lesson  will  be  to 
teach  you  to  examine  plausibilities  closely,  and  to 
distrust  summary  and  simple  arguments  on  topics 
about  which  men  differ." 

"  Does  any  one,  then,  maintain,"  asked  Douglas, 
"  that  two  opinions  which  impose  conflicting  duties 
can  both  he  right  ?" 

"  I  shall  not  answer  that,"  answered  Mr.  Trevor. 
"  You  shall  answer  it  yourself.  You  are  a  soldier 
of  the  United  States.  Suppose  an  insurrection. 
What,  in  that  case,  would  be  your  duty  ?" 

"  To  fight  against  the  rebels"  replied  Douglas, 
promptly. 

"  And,  thinking  as  you  do,  so  it  would  be.  Now, 
suppose  your  father  to  be  one  of  those  same 
rebels," 

"  I  see,"  said  Douglas,  after  a  pause,  in  which  lie 
colored  to  the  tips  of  his  ears ;  "  I  see  that  you  are 
right." 

"  In  what?"  asked  Mr.  Trevor. 

"In  maintaining,"  he  replied,  "that  two  opinions 
which  prescribe  conflicting  duties,  may  both  be 
right." 


1O2  The  Partisan  Leadei 

"But  I  have  not  said  so,"  replied  Mr.  Trevor, 
smiling. 

"  But  you  have  proved  it." 

"I  am  not  quite  sure  of  that.  Here  is  another 
summary  and  simple  looking  argument,  on  a  diffi 
cult  question.  My  own  rule  is,  i  distrust  and 
re-examine?  ': 

He  stopped  short,  while  Douglas  looked  at  him 
with  a  perplexed  and  wondering  eye.  He  at  length 
went  on  :  "I  shall  not  break  faith  with  your  father 
by  teaching  you  to  think.  You  have  the  proposi 
tions  ;  and  you  see  there  is  fallacy  somewhere. 
Analyse  the  subject,  and  find  your  own  result.  But 
come,  my  boy — this  is  poor  entertainment  for  a  hun 
gry  traveller.  Your  aunt  has  some  dinner  for  you 
by  this  time,  and  here  is  Tom  come  to  tell  us  so. 
Come,  give  me  your  arm,  and  help  me  to  the  din 
ing  room." 

"  My  dear  father,"  said  Delia,  "  that  is  my  office." 

"  Both !  both !  my  children !"  exclaimed  the  old 
man,  throwing  away  his  other  crutch.  "  Why,  now 
I  am  better  off  than  a  man  with  sound  limbs." 

In  the  dining  room,  Mrs.  Trevor  awaited  them. 
A  hasty  greeting  was  all  she  had  allowed  herself  on 
the  first  arrival  of  the  party  ;  after  which,  she 
betook  herself  to  the  duties  of  housewifery  and 
hospitality.  They  found  her  standing  at  the  back 
of  her  chair ;  and  Douglas,  as  he  entered,  thought 
he  had  rarely  seen  a  more  striking  figure.  She  was 
matronly  in  her  dress  and  air ;  tall,  majestic,  and 


The  Partisan  Leader.  103 

graceful  in  her  person :  and  with  a  countenance 
beaming  with  frankness,  animation,  and  intelligence. 
She  had  been  a  beautiful  woman,  and,  being  much 
younger  than  her  husband,  was  still  handsome.  She 
extended  her  hand  to  Douglas  as  he  entered,  and 
placing  him  near  her,  so  mingled  the  courtesy  due 
to  a  stranger  with  the  cordiality  of  an  old  acquaint 
ance,  as  to  make  him  feel  all  the  comfort  and  ease 
of  home,  without  ever  losing  a  sense  of  that  bland 
influence,  which,  while  it  secures  decorum,  imposes 
no  constraint. 

"  Would  you  have  known  me  ?"  asked  the  lady. 

"  I  cannot  say  I  could  have  identified  you,"  he 
replied  ;  "  but  I  should  have  recognized  you  as  one 
I  ought  to  know." 

"  And  your  uncle  ?" 

"Not  by  sight,  certainly,"  said  -  Douglas.  "I 
remember  him  too  distinctly  for  that.  He  is  too 
much  altered.  But  I  know  him  by  his  manners  and 
conversation.  These  I  never  could  forget;  and 
these  are  the  same,  and  peculiarly  his  own.  I 
remember  how  he  used  to  exercise  my  mind,  and 
make  me  talk;  and  yet  never  let  me  talk  without 
thinking." 

"  And  has  he  been  at  the  old  game  already  ?" 

"  O  yes !  He  has  set  me  to  revising  and  doubt 
ing  what  have  seemed  to  me  to  be  self-evident  truths, 
and  proposes  to  leave  me  to  work  out  the  problem 
by  myself.  What  conclusion  I  am  to  settle  in,  I 
cannot  guess ;  but,  from  present  appearances,  I  shall 


104  'fhe  Partisan  Leader 

not  be  surprised  if  I  go  away  convinced  tiiat  I  have 
seven  fingers  on  one  hand,  and  but  two  on  the 
other ;  nine  in  all." 

"  He  has  not  touched  on  politics  ?" 

"  0  no  !  That  subject  he  has  tabooed ;  and  I  am 
truly  sorry  for  it  /  for  while  I  never  desire  to  waver 
in  my  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  I  am  anxious 
to  understand  what  may  become  m>e  as  a  Virginian. 
If  I  may  judge  from  what  my  father  says,  there  is 
no  man  from  whom  I  could  learn  more  on  that  sub 
ject  than  my  uncle." 

"  His  lesson  would  not  be  a  short  one,"  replied  the 
lady.  "  His  commandments  on  behalf  of  the  State 
tire  only  second  in  authority  with  him  to  the  deca 
logue  ;  arid  they  do  not  lie  in  as  small  a  compass. 
But  he  fears  he  might  teach  you  some  things  your 
father  would  wish  you  to  unlearn." 

"  I  ain  not  so  sure  of  that,"  answered  Douglas. 
"I  meant  to  say  that  there  is  no  man  whose  judg 
ment  my  father  holds  in  higher  respect." 

"  That  is  something  new,"  said  Mrs.  Trevor,  color 
ing,  and  with  a  countenance  in  which  there  was  some 
expression  of  wounded  pride.  "  I  should  be  glad  to 
be  convinced  of  that." 

"Why  should  you  doubt  it?"  asked  the  young 
man,  with  surprise. 

"  Because  it  has  not  always  been  so ;  and.  as  I  claim 
a  woman's  privilege  to  admire  my  husband  above  all 
men,  I  have  felt  hurt  at  it.  Your  uncle  thinks  so 
highly  of  his  brother's  wisdom  and  prudence,  that  he 


The  Partisan  Leader.  loj 

has  always  borne  to  be  thought  the  reverse  of  him  in 
these  things,  and  quietly  submitted  to  be  condemned 
as  a  heretic  on  account  of  opinions,  of  the  correctness 
of  which  he  found  it  impossible  to  doubt." 

"  There  may  have  been  something  of  this,"  said  Dou 
glas,  earnestly  ;  "  but  I  assure  you  it  is  not  so  now. 
I  do  believe  one  motive  with  my  father  for  wishing 
me  to  make  this  visit,  is  his  desire  that  I  should  hear 
both  sides ;  and  have  the  benefit  of  the  sagacity  and 
manly  sense  which  he  imputes  to  my  uncle." 

"  He  will  have  to  tell  him  so  plainly,"  replied  Mrs. 
Trevor,  "before  he  will  open  his  mouth  to  you.  But 
I  shall  be  less  scrupulous;  and  I  am  in  daily  expec 
tation  of  a  friend  whose  frankness  will  leave  you  no 
cause  to  regret  your  uncle's  reserve." 

"Who  is  that?"  asked  Douglas. 

"  I  shall  leave  you  to  find  out.  You  will  see  many 
here  who  feel  and  think  with  your  uncle,  and  who 
come  to  him  to  compare  thoughts  and  concert  mea 
sures.  Among  them  is  the  man  on  whom  the  desti 
nies  of  his  country  depend." 

u  The  only  man  of  whom  I  should  predicate  that," 
replied  Douglas,  with  some  quickness,  "is  one  who,  I 
am  very  sure,  never  comes  here." 

"  There  is  a  good  and  an  evil  principle,"  said  Mrs. 
Trevor.  "  Events  alike  depend  on  both.  You  speak 
of  the  one  of  these — /of  the  other." 

Douglas  felt  his  cheek  burn  at  this  remark.  His 
aunt,  observing  it,  added :  "  You  see,  you  will  run 

the  risk  of  adopting  dangerous  heresies  if  you  encou 

5* 


io6  The   Partisan  Leader. 

rage  us  to  be  too  unreserved.  But  your  candor  and 
good  sense  may  be  trusted  to  lead  you  right,  without 
our  guidance." 

Douglas  felt  the  truth  of  the  first  part  of  this  speech. 
Whether  anything  more  than  a  complimentary  turn 
of  expression  was  meant  in  the  closing  words,  he  did 
not  know.  But  if  the  lady  intended  to  express  a  hope 
that  he  might  become  a  convert  to  the  disorganizing 
notions  which  he  feared  were  prevalent  in  her  circle, 
he  took  the  liberty  to  doubt  whether  her  anticipations 
would  ever  be  realized.  He  now  changed  the  con 
versation,  and  determined  to  take  a  second  thought 
before  he  invited  discussions  which  might  mislead 
him.  He  found  he  had  to  do  with  active  and  vigor 
ous  minds,  against  which  he  might,  perhaps,  vainly 
strive  to  defend  himself,  even  with  truth  on  his  side. 
He  resolved,  therefore,  to  yield  to  the  inclination 
whi  <ih  led  him  to  pass  his  time  with  his  young  friends, 
aud  chiefly  with.  Delia. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  107 


CHAPTEE    XII. 

My  heart,  sweet  boy,  shall  be  thy  sepulchre ; 
111  bear  thee  hence,  and  let  them  fight  that  will, 
For  I  have  murdered  where  I  would  not  kill. 

SHAKSPEARF.. 

I  SHOULD  detain  the  reader  with  matters  not  worthy 
of  a  place  in  this  grave  history,  if  I  descended  to  the 
particulars  of  the  intercourse  between  Douglas  Trevor 
and  his  charming  cousin.  It  is  enough  to  say,  that 
he  found  himself,  daily,  more  and  more  happy  in  her 
society;  and  was  more  and  more  convinced  that  it 
was  a  necessary  ingredient  in  his  happiness.  It  was 
not  long  before  he  concluded  that  he  would  not  live 
without  her ;  and,  having  told  her  so,  was  referred  by 
her  to  her  father. 

Nothing  doubting  that  his  communication  would  be 
favorably  received,  Douglas  was  eager  to  break  the 
matter  to  his  uncle,  and  ask  his  approbation  of  his 
suit.  To  his  utter  amazement,  the  old  gentleman, 
assuming  an  air  at  once  serious  and  tender,  said:  "My 
dear  boy,  had  I  the  world  to  choose  from,  there  is  no 
man  to  whom  I  would  sooner  trust  my  daughter's 
happiness.  But  circumstances  forbid  your  union.  1 
speak  advisedly  and  sadly.  I  have  seen  what  was 


lo8  The  Partisan  Leader. 

passing.     I  anticipated  this  communication,  and  deli 
berately  decided  on  my  answer." 

"  For  God's  sake,  sir  !  "  exclaimed  Douglas,  trem- 
Dling  with  impatience,  "  what  do  you  mean  ;  and 
what  is  your  answer  ?  " 

"  I  mean,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  and  my  answer  is, 
that  circumstances  forbid  it." 

"  Surely,"  said  Douglas,  "  your  objection  is  not 
to  the  nearness  of  blood." 

"  I  am  not  addicted  to  any  such  exploded  super 
stition,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "  But  my  daughter  must 
never  marry  one  that  wears  that  dress." 

"  I  like  my  profession,  sir,"  said  Douglas,  "  but 
will  change  it  without  hesitation." 

"  God  forbid  !  "  replied  the  old  gentleman.  "  I 
would  not  have  you  do  so ;  and  were  you  so  inclined, 
it  would  not  be  in  your  choice." 

"  I  can  resign  when  I  will,  and  my  resignation  will 
certainly  be  accepted." 

"  Still  you  would  be  a  soldier,  and  you  must  be  a 
soldier.  Peace  is  not  in  our  choice,  and  the  time  is 
at  hand  when  every  man,  who  can  wield  a  sword, 
must  do  so." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  sir,"  said  Douglas  in 
amazement. 

"  I  am  aware  you  do  not.  It  is  time  you  should. 
Yon  have  now  a  right  to  understand  me  ;  and  I  have 
a  right  to  be  understood  by  you.  We  are  on  the 
eve  of  what  you  will  call  rebellion.  I  shall  call  it  a 
war  of  right  and  liberty.  I  arn  old  and  infirm  ;  but 


The   Partisan  Leader.  109 

I  am  not  always  imprisoned  by  the  gout ;  and  no 
thing  but  physical  inability  shall  keep  me  from  sus 
taining,  with  my  sword,  a  cause  that  I  have  always 
advocated  with  tongue  and  pen.  It  will  be  bad 
enough  to  meet  the  sons  of  my  brother  in  arms 
against  my  country.  That  I  cannot  help.  But  it  is 
in  my  choice  whether  I  shall  thus  meet  my  daugh 
ter's  husband.  That  must  never  be." 

He  ceased  to  speak,  and  the  young  man,  dizzy 
with  mixed  thoughts  and  feelings,  sat  gazing  at  him 
in  mute  astonishment.  At  length,  starting  up,  he 
was  about  to  leave  the  room,  when  the  old  gentle 
man  held  out  his  hand.  Douglas  gave  his,  and  his 
uncle,  pressing  it  cordially,  went  on:  "My  son," 
said  he,  "  you  are  the  only  male  of  my  race  in  whom 
I  recognize  any  thing  which  tells  me  that  the  same 
blood  flows  in  our  veins.  We  cannot  help  the  sel 
fishness  that  disposes  us  to  love  those  who  resemble 
us  even  in  our  faults.  It  might  be  better  for  you  not 
to  resemble  me,  and  perhaps  I  ought  to  wish  that 
you  did  not.  But  I  cannot.  I  find  it  easier  to  forget 
that  you  are  not  my  son,  and  to  love  you  as  if  you 
were.  The  hope  that  you  may  yet  be  so,  is  hardly 
less  dear  to  me  than  to  you.  That  you  will  be  so,  if 
1  you  outlive  the  envy '  of  those  awful  events  which 
shall  open  your  eyes,  I  can  hardly  doubt.  But  these 
things  must  do  their  work.  The  convictions  which 
shall  make  you  throw  off  the  badges  of  allegiance 
to  him  whose  sworn  foe  I  am,  must  come  of  them 
selves.  While  you  wear  them,  I  am  bound  to 


no  The  Partisan  Leader. 

respect  jour  honor  by  saying  nothing  to  shake*  your 
faith  in  him,  and  to  his  cause.  In  the  mean  time,  1 
can  but  hope  for  the  best.  I  do  hope  ;  and  I  invite 
you  to  hope.  But  for  the  present,  hope  must  be  our 
all.  Things  must  remain  as  they  are  until  it  pleases 
God  so  to  order  events  as  to  make  your  sense  of  duty 
to  your  country  consistent  with  that  which,  as  my 
daughter's  husband,  you  will  owe  to  her  and  to  hei 
father." 

I  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  the  consternation  of 
Douglas  at  this  decisive  condemnation  of  his  pro 
posed  plan  of  happiness,  and  at  the  astounding  intel 
ligence  that  accompanied  it.  He  saw  plainly  that 
his  uncle  spoke  not  conjecturally,  but  from  certain 
knowledge  ;  and  he  was  sure,  that  under  such  cir 
cumstances,  no  attachment  could  tempt  Delia  to 
marry  him.  He  did  not  therefore  attempt  to  con 
tinue  the  discussion  of  the  subject,  but  left  the  house 
and  wandered  into  the  fields. 

The  tumult  of  his  mind  rendered  him  incapable  of 
reflexion.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  analyze  the  chaos 
of  his  thoughts.  But  light,  not  darkness,  floated  on 
the  surface.  The  hand  of  Delia  was  indeed  with 
held  for  a  season,  but  he  was  not  forbidden  to  hope 
that  it  might  one  day  or  other  be  his.  Should  it 
ever  be  true  that  rebellion  was  awake,  and  that  civil 
war  was  at  hand,  he  was  not  told  that  fidelity  to  his 
standard  would  be  imputed  to  him  as  a  crime.  The 
strife  must  end  one  way  or  the  other,  and  that  being 
past,  he  would  no  longer  be  condemned  to  the  hard 


The  Partisan  Leader.  111 

alternative  of  relinquishing  the  object  of  his  most 
ardent  wish,  or  exhibiting  the  shocking  spectacle  of 
a  husband  warring  against  the  father  of  his  wife. 

But  what  was  to  be  done  in  the  mean  time  ? 
Should  the  old  gentleman  take  the  field,  he  must 
find  some  other  theatre  of  action,  and  his  father's 
influence  with  the  President  would  readily  procure 
him  that  indulgence.  As  to  the  idea  of  renouncing 
what  he  had  been  taught  to  call  his  allegiance  to  the 
Federal  Government,  and  aiding  to  maintain  the 
dishonored  sovereignty  of  his  native  State,  it  did  not 
enter  his  mind.  Yet  there  was  something  in  its 
workings  that  suddenly  awakened  an  undefined 
interest  in  the  late  correspondence  between  his  father 
and  the  President.  He  no  sooner  thought  of  this, 
than  his  restless  wanderings  received  a  definite  direc 
tion  to  the  neighboring  post-office. 

Here  he  found  a  letter  from  his  father,  containing 
litle  more  than  the  copy  of  one  from  the  President. 
Its  contents  were  as  follows  : 

"WASHINGTON,  March  20,  1849. 

-  "  MY  DEAR  SIK  :  Your  letter  has  been  received, 
and,  to  me,  is  entirely  satisfactory.  But  I  regret  to 
inform  you  that,  to  those  friends  whom  I  feel  myself 
bound  to  consult,  it  is  not  so.  Such  of  them,  indeed, 
as  are  acquainted  with  your  high  character,  do  not 
intimate  a  doubt  that  a  full  explanation  of  the  affaii 
would  entirely  justify  your  assurance  that  I.  have 
been  misinformed. 


i  1 2  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  But  they  remind  me  that  my  information  comes 
from  a  source  entitled  to  all  respect  and  confidence, 
and  that,  by  making  thus  light  of  it,  I  may  estrange 
a  friend,  whom  they  regard  as  hardly  less  valuable 
and  meritorious  than  him  whose  feelings  I  wish  to 
save.  They  represent,  moreover,  that  the  affair  is 
bruited  in  the  army,  and  that  some  officers  are  mal 
content  at  the  thought  that  a  charge  so  serious 
should  be  passed  over  without  inquiry,  on  the  bare 
assurance  of  a  father's  confidence  in  the  innocence 
of  his  son. 

"  Under  these  circumstances,  should  Lieutenant 
Trevor  not  demand  a  court  of  inquiry,  I  am  fearful 
I  may  be  constrained,  against  iny  wish,  to  order  a 
court-martial.  Need  I  tell  you,  my  dear  sir,  how 
earnestly  I  deprecate  the  necessity  of  a  measure, 
which  must  so  nearly  touch  one  to  whose  friendship 
I  feel  so  much  indebted,  and  whose  loyalty  to  the 
Union  and  its  officers  has  always  been  so  conspicuous 
and  steady. 

"  I  remain,  my  dear  sir, 

"  Your  assured  friend, 

"M.  V.  B." 

To  this  copy  Mr.  Trevor  added  these  words : 
"  The  discretion,  good  sense,  and  proper  feeling 
you  have  already  manifested  in  this  affair,  have  been 
so  conspicuous,  that  I  choose  ratber  to  trust  its  future 
conduct  entirely  to  yourself  than  to  embarrass  you 
by  any  advice  of  mine.  Yet,  there  is  one  person, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  113 

my  dear  boy,  with  whom  I  would  have  you  to  advise. 
Your  uncle  has  been  a  soldier  in  his  youth,  and  is 
profoundly  versed  in  all  matters  of  military  etiquette 
He  is,  moreover,  a  clear-sighted  and  sagacious  man> 
who  will,  at  once,  see  this  matter  in  all  its  bearings 
and  relations  to  other  subjects.  His  views  are  not 
only,  in  general,  more  comprehensive  than  mine,  but 
I  suspect  he  is,  at  this  moment,  aware  of  considera 
tions  which  might  properly  influence  you,  and  which 
are  hidden  from  me.  I  know  his  guarded  and  deli 
cate  reserve,  in  all  his  communications  with  my 
children,  where  he  apprehends  a  difference  of  opinion 
between  himself  and  me.  Tell  him  that  he  has  my 
thanks  for  it ;  but  that  I  shall  be  yet  more  obliged, 
if,  in  this  instance,  he  will  cast  it  aside  entirely,  and 
give  you  the  benefit  of  all  his  thoughts,  as  if  you 
were  his  own  son.  I  fear  my  last  days  may  be  spent 
in  bitter  regrets  that  I  myself  have  not  heretofore 
made  more  avail  of  them." 


114  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTEE    XIII. 

• 

It  is  enough  to  grieve  the  heart, 

To  think  that  God's  fair  world  hath  been 

The  footstool  of  a  thing  so  mean. 

BYRON. 

THE  evening  was  far  advanced,  when  Douglas 
again  reached  his  uncle's  house.  He  went  imme 
diately  to  his  room,  and  sent  to  request  a  private 
interview  with  Mr.  Trevor.  He  was  accordingly 
invited  into  the  little  study  of  the  old  gentleman, 
where  he  commonly  sat  surrounded  by  books  and 
papers.  On  entering  the  room,  he  observed  an 
elderly  gentleman,  whom  he  had  never  seen  before, 
pass  out  at  a  door  communicating  with  the  drawing- 
room. 

Douglas  now  silently  handed  his  father's  letter  to 
his  uncle.  Mr.  Trevor  read  it  attentively,  and  again 
and  again  looked  over  it,  resting  his  eye  on  parti 
cular  passages,  as  if  to  possess  himself  of  the  full 
meaning  of  every  expression.  The  subject  was  in 
itself  interesting,  and  quite  new  to  him.  But  he  felt 
a  yet  deeper  interest  in  the  obscure  intimations  of  a 
change  in  his  brother's  mind  in  regard  to  those  mat 
ters  about  which  they  had  so  long  and  so  painfully 
differed.  Even  if  he  was  mistaken  in  this,  it  was 


The  Partisan  Leader.  113 

consoling  to  find  himself  rising  in  the  estimation  of 
Mr.  Hugh  Trevor ;  no  longer  regarded  by  him  as 
rash,  reckless,  and  inconsiderate,  but  consulted  as  a 
"  clear-sighted  and  sagacious  man "  in  an  affair  oi 
very  great  importance.  He  alone,  who  has  been 
conscious  of  being  thus  undervalued  by  a  friend  at 
once  beloved  and  respected,  can  estimate  the  satis 
faction  which  Mr.  Trevor  felt  at  that  moment.  If 
there  was  any  mixture  of  alloy  with  this  pleasure,  it 
flowed  from  self-reproach.  He  had  sometimes  found 
it  impossible  to  repress  some  little  risings  of  resent 
merit,  at  finding  his  judgment  habitually  disabled  bj 
his  elder  brother.  He  had  indeed  been  once  a  little 
white-headed  boy,  when  the  other  was  a  highly  intel 
ligent  and  promising  youth.  But,  at  sixty,  he  was 
not  quite  content  to  be  still  looked  on  as  a  child. 
Yet,  when  he  remarked  the  candor  of  his  brother's 
language,  and  the  self-abasing  sadness  of  his  tone, 
he  was  vexed  to  think  that  one  unkind  thought 
toward  him  had  ever  entered  his  mind. 

At  length,  he  interrupted  this  train  of  thought,  to 
ask  of  Douglas  an  explanation  of  the  President's 
letter.  In  answer,  he  received  a  detailed  account 
of  the  scene  at  the  falls,  and  was  permitted  to  read 
the  correspondence  which  had  grown  out  of  it. 

"  I  have  heard  something  of  this  before,"  said 
Mr.  Trevor.  "  Delia  told  me  all  that  passed  in  her 
presence,  and  showed  me  Baker's  palinode,  which  is 
rather  the  most  extraordinary  document  that  I  ever 
saw.  Why,  the  dog  acknowledges  that  he  actually 


ii6  The  Partisan  Leader. 

intended  to  insult  a  lady.  He  might,  at  least,  have 
had  the  grace  to  lie  about  it.  False  shame  is  bettei 
than  no  shame  at  all." 

"  He  would  have  been  glad  to  put  the  matter  on 
that  footing,"  said  Douglas,  "  could  he  have  got 
leave  to  do  so.  He  sent  me  such  a  paper  as  you 
suppose,  but  I  refused  to  receive  it.  His  apology 
to  me  I  knew  to  be  false.  It  was,  therefore,  the 
more  satisfactory  because  the  more  humiliating. 
But  I  sent  him  word  that  I  would  not  take  any  thing 
to  my  cousin  but  the  truth.  Here,"  continued  Doug 
las,  "  is  his  first  project  of  an  apology,  and  of  my 
rejection  of  it." 

Mr.  Trevor  read  them,  and  then  said :  "  This  is 
well.  I  knew  you  had  acted  handsomely,  but  how 
handsomely,  I  had  not  conceived  of.  But  let  me 
hear,  I  pray  you,  how  all  this  has  been  tortured  into 
an  oifence  against  majesty." 

Douglas  colored  slightly  at  the  word,  and  handed 
his  uncle  a  copy  of  the  President's  first  letter  to  his 
father.  He  had  but  to  add  an  account  of  his  subse 
quent  conversation  with  his  father,  and  Mr.  Trevor 
was  in  possession  of  the  whole  affair. 

"  You  see,"  said  Douglas,  "  that  I  am  referred  to 
you  for  advice,  and  that  you  are  invited  to  say  to 
me,  unreservedly,  what  you  will." 

"  /  do  see"  replied  Mr.  Trevor.  "  that  I  have 
carte  llanche,  as  far  as  depends  on  your  father.  But 
there  are  some  things  I  would  now  say  to  his  son, 
which  it  would  not  be  proper  to  say  to  a  soldier  of 


The  Partisan  Leader.  117 

the  United  States.  I  cannot,  therefore,  discard  all 
reserve,  but  all  that  he  has  ever  imposed  on  me,  I 
now  shake  off.  Indeed,  I  should  have  done  this 
now,  without  his  permission.  You  are  my  son,  ae 
well  as  his.  You  have  shown  that  you  know  how  to 
protect  my  daughter,  and  have  fairly  earned  a  right 
to  protect  her  through  life.  Nay,  no  raptures :  no 
thanks !  The  exercise  of  this  right  must  be  post 
poned  until  affairs  have  taken  a  different  shape  from 
that  they  bear  at  present.  But  revenons  a  nos  mou- 
tons  /"  The  question  is,  what  you  are  to  do  to  save 
this  despicable,  heartless  wretch  from  the  necessity 
of  offending  a  wretch  even  baser  than  himself,  whom 
he  despises." 

"  Whom  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  Douglas. 

"  I  mean,"  replied  the  other,  "  the  President  and 
the  elder  Baker,  that  tame  slave  of  power,  that 
shameless,  mercenary  pander,  who,  having  both 
talent  and  reputation,  sold  the  one  and  sacrificed 
the  other  for  office  and  infamy." 

"  And  is  it  for  such  a  man,"  exclaimed  Douglas, 
"  that  I  am  required  to  make  disclosures  before  a 
court  of  inquiry,  or  a  court-martial,  which  delicacy 
and  self-respect  forbid ?  Never!  Be  the  alternative 
what  it  may,  I  shall  never  consent  to  it." 

"  You  are  right,  my  son,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  nor 
can  I  relieve  you  from  the  difficulty  by  authorizing 
the  profanation  of  my  daughter's  name,  to  which 
Buch  an  investigation  would  lead.  My  duty  on  that 
head  is  peremptory,  not  discretionary.  If  your 


n8  The  Partisan  Leader. 

father  were  any  thing  but  the  perfect  gentleman  he 
is,  I  might  suspect  that  his  reference  to  me  was 
intended  to  elicit  some  such  suggestion.  But  I 
know  him  better.  I  infer  from  his  letter  more  than 
you  discover  there ;  and  I  am  not  sure  that  the 
advice  which  I  am  most  disposed  to  give,  is  that 
which  he  would  be  best  pleased  to  see  you  follow." 

"  What  would  that  advice  be  ?"  asked  Douglas, 
anxiously. 

"  Nay,"  replied  the  old  gentleman,  "  when  I  have 
made  up  my  mind,  you  shall  know." 

u  But  why  not  give  me  your  thoughts,"  said  the 
youth,  "  and  let  us  discuss  them  2" 

"  Because,  circumstanced  as  you  are,  we  cannot 
properly  discuss  them.  I  can  but  give  you  my  judg 
ment,  when  I  have  formed  it,  and  leave  you  to  find 
out  the  reasons  for  it." 

"  My  own  first  thought,"  said  Douglas,  "  is  to 
resign.  Let  us  discuss  that" 

"  It  was  mine  too,"  said  the  uncle,  "  and  there  is 
therefore  no  occasion  to  discuss  it.  Though  I  had 
not  sufficiently  matured  my  opinion  to  announce  it 
to  you,  I  think  I  may  promise,  that  if  you  come  to 
that  conclusion,  I  shall  not  dissent  from  it." 

"  The  only  difficulty  that  I  see  in  the  way,"  said 
Douglas,  "  is  that  an  offer  to  resign  is,  under  such 
circumstances,  generally  understood  as  a  shrinking 
from  inquiry." 

"  It  is  so ;  and  the  opinion  is  so  far  right,  that, 
when  the  charge  is  infamous,  resignation  doubles 


The  Partisan  Leader.  119 

the  infamy.  It  is  a  tacit  consent  to  be  infamous, 
only  on  condition  that  one  may  be  safe." 

"  You  state  the  point  with  startling  force,"  said 
the  youth.  "  And  how  would  you  distinguish  this 
case  from  the  one  you  suppose  ?" 

"  By  distinguishing  the  accusation  from  one  of 
falsehood,  peculation,  or  cowardice.  Should  you 
plead  guilty  to  such  charges  as  these,  or  seek  to 
evade  them  by  resignation,  you  stand  dishonored. 
But  read  over  the  President's  bill  of  indictment. 
'Now  suppose  it  true  that  you  had  entertained  and 
avowed  the  sentiments  there  imputed  to  you,  would 
there  be  any  dishonor  in  that  ?" 

"  Certainly  not ;  unless  my  being  an  officer  of  the 
United  States  would  make  a  difference." 

"  Should  that  prevent  you  from  thinking,  or  take 
away  a  freeman's  right  to  express  his  thoughts  ?" 

"  It  would  seem  not.  But  does  it  not  make  some 
difference  ?" 

"  Certainly.  Shall  I  tell  you  what  it  is  ?  Such 
sentiments  would  make  it  your  duty  (not  to  the  United 
States,  but  to  Virginia  and  to  yourself,)  to  resign. 
Now,  it  is  because  I  have  no  mind  to  seduce  a  sol 
dier  from  his  standard  that  I  have  been  careful  not 
to  infuse  such  sentiments  into  you.  If  once  you  lay 
aside  the  panoply  of  the  uniform,  and  throw  away 
the  amulet  of  the  commission,  I  would  not  ensure 
you  against  opinions  which  you  may  have  to  main 
tain  at  the  hazard  of  your  life.  But  time  presses. 
Your  own  suggestion  disposes  me  to  speak  more 


12O  The  Partisan  Leader. 

promptly  and  decidedly  than  I  should  otherwise 
have  done.  I  therefore  say,  tender  your  resignation. 
But,  if  you  have  no  objection,  I  should  like  to  con 
sult  a  friend,  on  whose  most  hasty  opinions  I  rely 
more  than  on  the  coolest  judgment  of  others." 

"  If  you  mean  my  aunt,"  said  Douglas,  "  I  know 
few  persons  on  whose  instinctive  sense  of  propriety  I 
should  place  more  reliance." 

"  She  would  well  deserve  your  confidence ;  but  1 
mean  the  gentleman  who  left  the  room  as  you  entered. 
He  has  been  her  friend  for  thirty  years,  and  mine  for 
more  than  half  that  time." 

"  But  to  me,"  said  Douglas,  "  he  is  an  utter  stranger, 
and  I  feel  some  delicacy  in  consulting  a  stranger  on 
such  an  occasion." 

"  You  forget,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  that  all  there  is 
of  delicacy  in  the  case  touches  me  as  nearly  as  you. 
It  is  not  you,  a  stranger,  but  I,  an  intimate  friend, 
who  propose  to  ask  his  advice.  Charge  that  matter 
to  my  account,  then,  and  merely  decide  for  yourself, 
whether  it  may  not  be  desirable  to  have  the  counsel 
of  one  as  remarkable  for  scrupulous  delicacy,  as  for 
sagacity  and  resource  ?" 

"  There  can  be  but  one  answer  to  that  question," 
replied  Douglas,  "  and  I  shall  therefore  gladly  take 
th«  benefit  of  his  advice." 

The  hand-bell  sounded,  and  the  ever-ready  Tom 

appeared.  "  My  respects  to  Mr.  B ,"  said  Mr. 

Trevor.  "  Ask  him,  if  he  pleases,  to  walk  into  this 


The  Partisan  Leader.  121 

Tom  disappeared,  and  soon  returned  marshalling  in 

Mr.  B .     He  was  a  man  apparently  of  sixty  years 

of  age,  or  more,  slightly  formed,  but  tall,  erect,  clean 
limbed,  and  sinewy.  His  vigor  seemed  little  impaired 
by  time,  though  his  high  and  strong  features  made 
him  look  at  least  as  old  as  he  was.  A  light  blue  eye, 
clear  and  sparkling,  quick  in  its  glance,  but  settled 
and  searching  in  its  gaze,  was  the  striking  feature  of 
his  face.  The  sun  had  burned  out  all  traces  of  his 
original  complexion,  and  a  silver  hue  had  usurped  the 
color  of  his  hair.  His  whole  appearance  was  impos 
ing,  and  while  it  commanded  the  respect  due  to  the 
wisdom  of  age,  seemed  to  claim  no  pity  for  its  infir 
mities.  To  this  sentiment,  which  enters  so  largely 
into  the  composition  of  that  character  which  the  world 
calls  venerable,  he  certainly  made  no  pretensions.  No 
one  would  have  called  him  venerable,  though  no 
man  was  held  in  higher  veneration  by  those  who  knew 
him. 


122  The   Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTER    XIY. 

I  had  not  loved  thee,  dear,  so  much, 

Loved  I  not  honor  more.  LOVELACE 

THE  frankness  and  cordiality  of  his  manner,  when 
introduced  to  Douglas,  gave  assurance  that  he  took 
a  great  interest  in  the  young  man  ;  who  felt,  on  his 
part,  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  a  man  of  no  com 
mon  mould,  and  that  in  that  man  be  had  found  an 
efficient  friend. 

"  And  now,  Tom,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  pass  the  word 
for  coffee  and  privacy  in  this  room." 

Tom  bowed  and  withdrew,  and  Mr.  Trevor,  with 
out  preface  or  apology,  proceeded  to  lay  the  case 
before  his  friend.  This  he  did  with  great  precision 
of  statement,  while  the  other  listened  with  an  air 
which  showed  that  no  word  was  lost  on  him.  Hav 
ing  got  through,  Mr.  Trevor  added  :  "  We  now  wish 
you  to  advise  what  should  be  done  in  this  case." 

"  Resign,  by  all  means,"  said  Mr.  B .  "  Resign 

immediately!" 

"  Your  reasons?"  asked  Mr.  Trevor. 

"There  are  plenty  of  them,  of  which  you  are 
aware,"  said  B ,  "and  with  which  our  young 


The  Partisan  Leader.  123 

friend  shall  be  made  acquainted  after  resignation — • 
not  before.  But  there  are  others  which  may  be  spoken 
of  now.  The  alternative  is  a  court  of  inquiry,  a  court- 
martial,  or  resignation.  To  the  two  first  the  same 
objection  applies.  Your  nephew  cannot  expect  any 
satisfactory  result  from  either,  but  by  the  use  of 
means  which,  I  am  sure,  his  delicacy  would  not  pei 
mit  him  to  use — I  mean  the  public  use  of  a  lady's 
name.  Some  people  have  a  taste  for  that,  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  world  it  is  all  the  rage.  I  thank 
God  that  the  fashion  has  not  reached  us.  A  woman, 
exposed  to  notoriety,  learns  to  bear  and  then  to  love 
it.  When  she  gets  to  that,  she  should  go  North  ; 
write  books  ;  patronize  abolition  societies  ;  or  keep  a 
boarding-school.  She  is  no  longer  fit  to  be  the  wife 
of  a  Virginia  gentleman.  But  there  is  no  need  to 
say  this.  You,  Trevor,  were  your  nephew  so  inclined, 
would  never  permit  the  name  of  your  daughter  to  be 
thus  profaned." 

"  I  could  oppose  nothing  to  it,"  said  Mr.  Trevor, 
"  but  my  displeasure.  And  though  I  might  not  wish 
it,  could  I  have  a  right  to  be  displeased  with  Doug 
las  for  vindicating  himself  from  a  charge  which  has 
grown  out  of  his  gallant  defence  of  her?  Think  of 
the  favorable  standing  of  his  family  ;  observe  the 
rapid  promotion  of  his  brother ;  and  consider  whether 
a  punctilio  of  this  sort  should  bind  him  to  renounce 
prospects  so  flattering  ?" 

"  Were  the  prospect  more  flattering  than  you  state 
it, '  said  B ,  "  it  would  not  change  my  opinion. 


124  The   Partisan  Leader. 

But  what  prospect  is  there?  Colonel  Trevor  is  per 
haps  a  favorite  at  court.  So,  doubtless,  is  your  brother 
But  he  is  not  a  man  whose  fidelity  is  either  to  be 
bought  or  rewarded  ;  and  he  and  his  will  be,  at  any 
moment,  postponed  and  sacrificed  to  the  mercenary, 
who  might  desert,  and  even  mutiny  for  want  of  pay. 
Here  is  proof  of  it. 

"  Look  at  the  shallow  pretext  for  this  proposed 
court-martial.  The  President  is  pleased  to  say  that 
he  believes  your  brother  ;  but  that  there  are  those 
who  do  not.  Who  are  they  ?  Who  can  they  be  ? 
Who  is  there,  worthy  to  be  accounted  among  his 
advisers,  that  can  disbelieve  anything  that  Hugh 
Trevor  shall  assert  ?  Don't  you  see  the  cheat  ? 
Don't  you  see  that  your  brother,  whose  attachment 
to  the  Union,  based  as  it  is  on  principle,  may  be 
safely  trusted,  is  to  have  his  feelings  wounded  to 
gratify  the  mortified  pride  of  the  elder  Baker,  and 
the  skulking  malice  of  his  son  ?  You,  Mr.  Trevor, 
know  better  than  I  do,  who  are  about  the  President. 
Is  there  one  among  them  to  whom  your  father's 
word  would  need  the  support  of  other  testimony  ? 
Good  old  man  <  So  little  has  he  of  pride  or  jealousy, 
that  this  thought  never  occurs  to  him.  He  is  modestly 
asking  himself  what  right  he  has  to  expect  credence 
from  those  who  do  not  know  him.  And  who  are 
these  malcontent  officers  ?  Think  you  there  is  one 
of  them  who  would  venture  to  express  his  dissatis 
faction  to  you  ?  No.  There  is  no  one  malcon 
tent.  No  one  dissatisfied  but  that  son  of  the  horse- 


The  Partisan  Leader.  123 

leech,  whose  mouth  is  ever  agape,  and  never  can  be 
filled. 

"  Do  look  at  this  letter,"  continued  B ,  address 
ing  Mr.  Trevor.  "  How  perfectly  in  character.  Not 
one  traversable  allegation  (as  the  lawyers  say)  except 
that  of  his  friendship  for  your  brother.  '  Those 
friends  whom  I  feel  bound  to  consult ! '  Who  are 
they  ?  Press  him,  and  I  dare  say  some  fellow  below 
contempt,  some  scullion  of  the  kitchen  political  or  the 
kitchen  gastronomical,  may  be  found  to  father  what 
it  is  alleged  that  these  friends  have  said.  '  His 
information  is  from  a  source  entitled  to  all  confi 
dence  ! '  Does  he  even  say  that  as  of  himself?  No. 
He  charges  that  too  on  his  friends,  though  it  might 
not  be  easy  to  find  a  sponsor  for  that  compliment  to 
old  Baker.  Since  the  death  of  his  brother  pimp 
Ritchie,  I  think  that  sort  of  thing  has  gone  out  of 
fashion.  '  Hardly  less  valuable  and  meritorious  than 
your  brother.'  The  same  authority.  *  On  ditj  l  they 
say.'1  I  think  this  last  On,  would  be  as  hard  to  find 
as  that  universal  author  of  mischief,  Nobody. 

"  But,  when  we  come  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  the 
army,  it  is  worse  still.  Here  is  on  dit  upon  on  dit. 
Somebody  says  that  somebody  else  is  dissatisfied ; 
and  such  are  the  gossamer  threads,  woven  into  a  veil 
to  hide  this  insult  to  your  brother,  and  this  indignity 
to  your  nephew.  Take  away  these,  and  what  remains 
but  a  wish  to  soothe  Baker?  And  what  must  be  the 
force  of  those  favorable  dispositions  to  your  young 
friend,  which  are  to  be  counteracted  by  such  a  motive? 


j  26  The  Partisan  Leader 

By  a  reluctance  to  offend  an  abject  wretch  too  spirit 
less  to  resent,  and  without  influence  to  make  bis 
resentment  at  all  formidable." 

"  Enough  !  "  said  Douglas.  "  I  will  send  on  my 
resignation  by  the  next  mail." 

"  No,  my  dear  sir,"  said  B ,  "  don't  yield  too 

readily  to  my  suggestions." 

"  It  was  his  own  suggestion,  and  already  approved 
by  me,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "  Had  you  dissented,  we 
would  have  reconsidered  the  matter.  As  it  is,  we  are 
but  confirmed  in  our  decision." 

"  That  being  the  case,"  said  B ,  "  I  have  only  to 

say  distinctly  that  the  thing  admits  of  no  doubt  with 
me.  I  am  not  only  sure  that,  in  resigning,  your 
nephew  will  do  what  best  becomes  him  as  a  gentle 
man,  but  that  he  will  make  a  fortunate  escape  from 
the  service  of  one  whose  maxim  it  is  to  reward  none 
but  the  mercenary." 

"  Then  go  to  work,  my  boy,"  said  Mr.  Trevor. 
"  The  mail  goes  at  day -light.  Enclose  your  letter  of 
resignation,  unsealed,  in  one  to  your  father.  I  will 
have  them  mailed  to-night,  and  you  will  get  an 
answer  in  a  week.  Here  are  the  materials.  Write, 
and  we  will  chat  and  take  our  coffee.  By  the  way, 
Douglas,  you  have  not  dined." 

u  Thank  you,  my  dear  uncle,  I  am  too  busy  to  be 
hungry,"  said  the  youth. 

"Beit  so,"  said  the  old  gentleman.  "It  is  not 
so  long  since  I  was  young,  but  that  I  understand  your 
trim.  Starving  is  better  than  blood-letting,  and  a  full 
heart  needs  the  one  or  the  other." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  127 

When  Douglas's  letters  were  finished,  he  would 
gladly  have  put  them  into  Delia's  hands  before  he 
sent  them  off.  But  he  found,  what  most  men  have 
been  surprised  to  find,  that  after  what  had  passed  in 
the  morning  between  him  and  Delia,  it  was  much 
harder  to  obtain  an  interview  with  her  than  before. 
When  a  young  gentleman  makes  a  visit  of  some  days 
to  a  friend  in  the  country,  whose  daughter  suspects 
that  he  has  something  to  say  to  her  that  she  is  impa 
tient  to  hear,  it  is  amusing  to  see  how  many  chances 
will  bring  them  together.  Each  of  them  is  always 
happening  to  have  some  call  to  go  where  the  other 
happens  to  be ;  and,  when  together,  each  is  apt  to  be 
detained  in  the  room  by  some  interesting  occupation 
until  the  rest  of  the  company  have  left  it.  They  are 
continually  meeting  in  passages,  and  on  staircases ; 
and,  in  pleasant  weather,  they  are  almost  sure  to  stroll 
into  the  garden  about  the  same  time.  But  let  the 
decisive  word  be  once  spoken,  and  all  is  changed. 
Then,  bless  us,  how  we  blush !  and  how  we  glide 
through  half- open  doors,  and  slip  away  arounc 
corners ! 

Still  it  will  happen,  as  love  makes  people  restless, 
that  both  will  rise  early,  and  so  meet  in  the  parlor 
before  others  are  awake.  And  then  there  is  "the 
dewy  eve  and  rising  moon,"  and  the  quiet  walk  "  by 
wimpling  burn  and  leafy  shaw  ;"  but  as  to  a  private 
word  in  the  bustling  hours  of  the  day,  that  is  out  of 
the  question. 

All  this  is  the  result  of  sheer  accident.     See  how 


128  The  Partisan  Leader. 

innocent  and  artless  she  looks  I  And  how  light  and 
elastic  is  her  step  as  she  moves  along;  her  swan-like 
neck  outstretched,  her  face  slightly  upturned,  her  eye 
swimming  in  light,  and  looking  as  if  the  veil  of  futu 
•":iy  were  raised  before  her,  and  all  the  gay  visions 
of  hope  stood  disclosed  in  bright  reality.  Is  she 
riot  beautiful  ?  O  the  charm  of  mutual  love !  Who 
can  wonder  that  each  man's  mistress,  wearing  this 
Cytherean  zone,  is  in  his  eyes  the  Queen  of  Beauty 
herself? 

But  I  forget  myself.  What  place  for  thoughts  like 
these  in  a  chronicle  of  wars  and  revolutions  ?  True, 
it  is  in  such  causes  that  the  spring  of  great  events  is 
found.  But  these  belong  to  the  history  of  man  in  all 
ages,  in  all  countries,  under  all  circumstances.  It 
was  so  u  before  Helen  ;"  and  will  be  so  while  the  world 
stands.  But  it  may  not  be  unprofitable  to  look  into 
the  chain  of  cause  and  consequence,  and  to  trace  the 
ieliverance  of  Virginia  from  thraldom,  and  the  defeat 
of  the  usurper's  well-laid  plans,  to  the  impertinent 
speech  of  one  of  his  minions  to  a  country  girl,  during 
a  pic  nic  party  at  the  falls  of  James  river. 

But  to  return.  Douglas  took  a  copy  of  his  letter 
of  resignation,  and,  meeting  Delia  the  next  morning, 
put  it  into  her  hands.  She  read  it  with  a  grave  and 
thoughtful  countenance,  and  then,  looking  sadly  in 
his  face,  said :  "  This  is  what  I  feared." 

"  What  you  feared !"  replied  he,  in  amazement. 
"  Can  you  then  wish  me  to  retain  my  place  in  the 
army  ?" 


The  Partisan  Leader.  129 

"  Until  you  resign  it  to  conviction  and  a  sense  of 
duty,  certainly  !" 

"  And  can  you  doubt  that  I  have  done  so  ?" 

"How  can  it  be  so?"  she  replied.  "  But  yester 
day  we  spoke  on  this  subject.  What  has  since  hap 
pened.  O !  can  it  be  that  my  noble  father  has  im 
posed  dishonorable  conditions ;  and  that  you  have 
been  weak  enough  to  comply  with  them?  0 !  Doug 
las!  Is  my  love  fated  to  destroy  the  very  qualities 
that  engaged  it?" 

"Dear  Delia,"  said  Douglas,  "I  understand  you 
now.  Your  beautiful  indignation  reminds  me  that 
you  do  not  know  what  has  passed." 

"  What  can  have  passed  ?"  asked  she,  with  earnest 
and  reproachful  sadness.  "All  the  eloquence  and 
address  of  Mr.  B himself  could  not  have  con 
vinced  your  unbiassed  mind  in  two  hours'  conversation. 
I  know  his  power.  1  know  the  wonders  he  has 
wrought ;  and  I  trembled  when  I  heard  the  watch 
word,  'coffee  and  privacy.'  I  feared  your  love  for 
me  might  be  used  to  sway  your  judgment,  and  hoped 
to  have  found  an  opportunity  to  invoke  it  for  the 
worthier  purpose  of  guarding  your  honor.  I  did  not 
dream  that,  when  I  rose  so  early  this  morning,  I  was 
already  too  late." 

"  Sweet  youth,  I  pray  you  chide  a  year  together," 

said  Douglas,  playfully.  "Your  indignation  is  so 
eloquent,  that,  cruel  as  it  is,  I  would  not  interrupt 
you  to  undeceive  you.  Your  father  and  Mr.  B— 

fi* 


130  The  Partisan  Leader. 

have  made  no  attack  on  my  opinions  or  allegiam  , 
and  what  was  done  last  night  you  have  had  no  ageiK  / 
in,  since  our  party  at  the  Falls.  It  all  originated 
there."  * 

He  now  gave  her  the  full  history  of  the  affair,  and 
succeeded  in  convincing  her  that  his  standard  of 
honor  was  even  higher  than  she  had  imagined.  If 
she  requited  him  for  her  unjust  suspicions  with  a 
kiss,  he  never  told  of  it.  Perhaps  she  did.  For 
although,  according  to  the  refinements  of  the  Yan 
kees,  kissing  was  in  very  bad  taste,  yet  the  northern 
regime  had  not  reached  the  banks  of  the  Koanokc. 
The  ladies  there  still  continued  to  walk  in  the  steps 
of  their  chaste  mothers — safe  in  that  high  sense  of 
honor  which  protects  at  once  from  pollution  and 
suspicion. 

It  is  true,  that  when  a  people  become  corrupt,  they 
must  learn  to  be  fastidious,  and  invent  safeguards  to 
prevent  vice,  and  blinds  to  conceal  it  when  it  is  to  be 
indulged.  Duennas  are  necessary  in  Spain.  They 
are  at  once  the  guarantee  of  a  lady's  honor,  and  the 
safe  instruments  of  her  pleasures.  Black  eunuchs 
perform  the  same  functions  in  Turkey.  In  the  north 
ern  factories,  boys  and  girls  are  not  permitted  to  work 
together.  In  their  churches,  the  gentlemen  and  ladies 
do  not  sit  in  the  same  pew.  What  a  pitch  of  refine 
ment  !  Sterne's  story  of  the  Abbe  in  the  theatre  at 
Paris  affords  the  only  parallel. 

Thank  God  !  the  frame  of  our  society  has  kept  us 
free  from  the  cause  and  its  consequences.  Whatever 


The  Partisan  Leader. 

corruption  there  may  be  among  us  is  restrained  to  a 
particular  class,  instead  of  diffusing  itself  by  con 
tinuous  contact  through  all  grades  and  ranks.  If  it 
were  true,  as  the  wise,  and  eloquent,  and  pious,  and 
benevolent,  and  discreet  Dr.  Channing  had  said,  some 
fifteen  years  before,  that  below  a  certain  line  all  was 
corrupt,  it  was  equally  true  that  above  it  all  was  pure. 
Nature  had  marked  the  line,  and  established  there 
a  boundary  which  the  gangrene  of  the  social  body 
could  never  pass. 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


CIIAPTEK    XY. 

Mammon,  the  least  erected  spirit,  that  fell 

From  heaven,  for  e'en  in  heav'n  his  looks  and  thoughts 

Were  always  downward  bent  admiring  more 

The  riches  of  heav'n's  pavement,  trodden  gold, 

Than  aught  divine  or  holy  else  enjoyed 

In  vision  beatific.  MILTON. 

ON  the  evening  of  the  third  day  from  that  of 
which  I  have  just  been  speaking,  the  President  of 
the  United  States  was  sitting  alone  in  a  small  room 
in  his  palace,  which,  in  conformity  fo  the  nomencla 
ture  of  foreign  courts,  it  had  become  the  fashion  to 
call  his  closet.  The  furniture  of  this  little  apartment 
was  characterized  at  once  by  neatness,  taste,  and 
convenience.  Without  being  splendid,  it  was  rich 
and  costly ;  and,  in  its  structure  and  arrangement, 
adapted  to  the  use  of  a  man,  who,  devoted  to  busi 
ness,  yet  loved  his  ease.  The  weariness  of  seden 
tary  application  was  relieved  by  the  most  tasteful 
and  commodious  variety  of  chairs,  couches,  and  sofas, 
while  the  utmost  ingenuity  was  displayed  in  the 
construction  of  desks,  tables,  and  other  conveniences 
for  reading  and  writing.  In  the  appearance  of  the 
distinguished  personage,  to  whose  privacy  I  have 


The  Partisan  Leader.  133 

introduced  the  reader,  there  was  a  mixture  of 
thought  and  carelessness  very  much  in  character 
with  the  implements  of  business  and  the  appliances 
for  ease  and  comfort  which  surrounded  him.  He 
occasional^  looked  at  his  watch,  and  at  the  door, 
with  the  countenance  of  one  who  expects  a  visitor ; 
and  then  throwing  himself  against  the  arm  of  his 
sofa,  resumed  his  disengaged  air.  That  something 
was  on  his  mind  was  apparent.  But,  interesting 
as  the  subject  might  be,  it  did  not  seem  to  touch 
him  nearly.  His  whole  manner  was  that  of  a  man 
who  is  somewhat  at  a  loss  to  know  what  may  be  best 
for  others,  but  finds  full  consolation  in  knowing  pre 
cisely  what  is  best  for  himself. 

As  the  events  of  the  last ,  ten  years  make  it  pro 
bable  that  none  of  my  younger  readers  have  ever 
seen  the  august  dignitary  of  whom  I  speak,  and  as 
few  of  us  are  like  to  have  occasion  to  see  him  in 
future,  a  particular  description  of  his  person  may 
not  be  unacceptable.  Though  far  advanced  in  life,  he 
was  tastily  and  even  daintily  dressed,  his  whole  cos 
tume  being  exactly  adapted  to  a  diminutive  and 
dapper  person,  a  fair  complexion,  a  light  and  bril 
liant  blue  eye,  and  a  head  which  might  have  formed 
a  study  for  the  phrenologist,  whether  we  consider 
its  ample  developments  or  its  egg-like  baldness. 
The  place  of  hair  was  supplied  by  powder,  which 
his  illustrious  example  had  again  made  fashionable.- 
The  revolution  in  public  sentiment  which,  com 
mencing  sixty  years  ago,  had  abolished  all  the  privi- 


1 34  The  Partisan  Leader. 

leges  of  rank  and  age  ;  which  trained  up  the  young 
to  mock  at  the  infirmities  of  their  fathers,  and 
encouraged  the  unwashed  artificer  to  elbow  the 
duke  from  his  place  of  precedence ;  this  revolution 
had  now  completed  its  cycle.  While  the  sovereignty 
of  numbers  was  acknowledged,  the  convenience  of 
the  multitude  had  set  the  fashions.  But  the  reign 
of  an  individual  had  been  restored,  arid  the  taste  of 
that  individual  gave  law  to  the  general  taste.  Had 
he  worn  a  wig,  wigs  would  have  been  the  rage. 
But  as  phrenology  had  taught  him  to  be  justly 
proud  of  his  high  and  polished  forehead,  and  the 
intellectual  developments  of  the  whole  cranium,  he 
eschewed  hair  in  all  its  forms,  and  barely  screened 
his  naked  crown  from  the  air  with  a  light  covering 
of  powder.  He  seemed,  too,  not  wholly  unconscious 
of  something  worthy  of  admiration  in  a  foot,  the 
beauty  of  which  was  displayed  to  the  best  advan 
tage  by  the  tight  fit  and  high  finish  of  his  delicate 
slipper.  As  he  lay  back  on  the  sofa,  his  eye  rested 
complacently  on  this  member,  which  was  stretched 
out  before  him,  its  position  shifting,  as  if  unconsci 
ously,  into  every  variety  of  grace.  Returning  from 
thence,  his  glance  rested  on  his  hand,  fair,  delicate, 
small,  and  richly  jewelled.  It  hung  carelessly  on 
the  arm  of  the  sofa,  and  the  fingers  of  this,  too,  as  if 
rather  from  instinct  than  volition,  performed  sun 
dry  evolutions  on  which  the  eye  of  majesty  dwelt 
with  gentle  complacency. 
This  complacent  reverie  was  frequently  broken  by 


The   Partisan  Leader.  135 

the  sound  of  the  door-bell.  At  such  moments,  the 
President  would  raise  his  head  with  a  look  of  awak 
ened  expectation,  which  subsided  instantly;  until, 
by  frequent  repetition,  it  called  up  some  expression 
of  displeased  impatience.  At  last,  the  sound  was 
echoed  by  a  single  stroke,  which  rang  from  what 
looked  like  a  clock  within  the  room.  He  immedi 
ately  sat  erect,  assuming  an  air  of  dignified  and 
complacent  composure,  suited  to  the  reception  of  a 
respected  visiter. 

The  door  opened,  and  the  gentleman  in  waiting 
bowed  into  the  room  a  person  who  well  deserves  a 
particular  description,  and  then  withdrew. 

The  individual  thus  introduced  was  a  gentleman 
whose  age  could  not  be  much  short  of  seventy.  In 
person  he  had  probably  been  once  nearly  six  feet 
high,  but  time  had  at  once  crushed  and  bowed  him 
to  a  much  shorter  stature.  Indeed,  the  stoop  of  his 
shoulders,  the  protrusion  of  the  neck,  arid  the  pro 
jecting  position  of  the  chin,  made  together  that 
peculiar  complex  curvature  which  brings  the  top  of 
the  cape  of  the  coat  exactly  against  the  top  of  the 
head.  The  expression  of  his  countenance  was,  at 
once,  fawning  and  consequential.  His  face  had 
been  originally  something  between  round  and 
square.  It  was  now  shortened  by  the  loss  of  his 
teeth.  The  muscular  fulness  of  youth  had  not 
been  replaced  by  any  accession  of  fat,  nor  had  the 
skin  of  his  face  shrunk,  as  it  often  does,  on  the 
retiring  flesh.  The  consequence  wa-,  that  his 


136  The  Partisan  Leader. 

cheeks  hung  down  in  loose  pouches,  and  all  his 
features,  originally  small  and  mean,  seemed  in 
volved  in  the  folds  of  his  shrivelled  and  puckered 
skin.  His  voice  was  harsh  and  grating,  and  the 
more  so  from  an  attempt  at  suavity  in  the  tones, 
which  produced  nothing  more  than  a  drawling  pro 
longation  of  each  word.  Thus,  though  he  spoke 
slowly,  the  stream  of  sound  flowed  continually  from 
his  lips,  reminding  the  hearer  of  the  never-ending 
chant  of  the  locust. 

As  the  President  rose  and  gracefully  advanced  to 
welcome  him,  he  shuffled  forward  as  if  wishing  to 
prevent  the  honor  thus  done  him,  while  the  increased 
curve  of  his  back  and  the  eager  humility  of  his  up 
turned  countenance,  betokened  the  prostration  of  his 
spirit  in  the  presence  of  the  dispenser  of  honor  and 
emolument.  Having  bowed  himself  on  the  hand 
which  had  been  graciously  extended  to  him,  he 
remained  standing  on  the  floor  as  if  unmindful  of 
repeated  invitations  to  be  seated.  The  President  had 
not  yet  so  entirely  forgotten  the  manners  which  once 
distinguished  him  as  a  most  accomplished  gentleman, 
and  was  not  at  first  aware  of  the  necessity  of  seating 
himself  before  his  deferential  guest.'  At  length,  he 
resumed  his  place  on  the  sofa,  and  then  the  other,  with 
a  new  prostration,  which  seemed  to  apologize  for  sit 
ting  in  the  presence  of  majesty,  followed  his  example. 
lie  did  not,  indeed,  presume  to  share  the  sofa,  though 
invited  to  do  so,  but  took  his  place  on  a  seat  equally 
luxurious  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  fire-place.  But 


The  Partisan  Leader.  137 

the  luxury  of  the  chaise  tongue  was  lost  on  him.  He 
felt  that  to  lean  against  the  back  or  arm  would  be 
quite  unbecoming,  and  sat  as  nearly  erect  as  he  could, 
in  that  precise  posture  which  indicates  a  readiness  to 
spring  to  the  feet  and  do  the  bidding  of  a  superior. 

"  I  had  begun  to  despair  of  seeing  you  this  even 
ing,  my  dear  sir,"  said  the  President,  in  a  tone  at  once 
kind  and  reproachful.  "  I  had  given  orders  that  I 
should  be  denied  to  all  but  you." 

"  You  do  me  great  and  undeserved  honor,"  replied 
the  other,  "but  I " 

"  I  wished  to  speak  to  you  in  private,"  continued 
Mr.  Van  Buren,  not  noticing  the  interruption,  "  of  a 
matter  which  deeply  interests  us  both.  Here  is  a  letter 
which  I  received  this  morning,  which  makes  it  at  least 
doubtful  whether  the  last  step  which  I  took  in  regard 
to  that  young  man,  Trevor,  is  quite  such  as  should 
have  been  taken." 

He  then  took  from  a  bundle  of  papers,  one  which 
he  read  as  follows : 

"  SIR  :  I  have  just  learned  that  charges  of  a  serious 
nature  have  been  made  against  Lieutenant  Trevor, 
which,  it  seems,  grow  out  of  certain  occurrences  to 
which  I  am  privy.  I  can  have  little  doubt  that  the 
affair,  to  which  I  allude,  has  not  been  truly  reported 
to  you.  Had  it  been,  you  would  have  seen  that 
Lieutenant  T.  acted  no  otherwise  than  as  became  a 
soldier  and  a  gentleman,  in  whose  presence  a  lady, 
under  his  protection,  had  been  insulted.  The  enclosed 


138  The  Partisan  Leader. 

documents,  to  the  authenticity  of  which  I  beg  leave 
to  testify,  will  place  the  transaction  in  its  true  light. 
Were  Lieutenant  T.  at  Washington,  I  should  not  lay 
these  papers  before  you,  without  authority  from  him. 
As  it  is.  I  trust  I  do  no  more  than  my  duty  by  him, 
and  by  your  Excellency,  in  furnishing  such  evidences 
of  the  real  facts  of  the  case,  as  may  aid  you  in  decid 
ing  on  the  course  to  be  pursued  in  regard  to  it. 

"  It  may  be  proper  to  add,  that,  having  acted  as 
Lieutenant  T.'s  friend  on  the  occasion,  these  docu 
ments  were  left  in  my  possession  in  that  character.  It 
is  this  same  character,  in  which  I  feel  it  especially  my 
duty  to  step  forward  as  the  guardian  of  his  honor  and 
interests. 

"Hoping  that  your  Excellency  will  excuse  the 
freedom  which  calls  your  notice  to  so  humble  a 
aame, 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

"  Your  Excellency's  most  obedient, 
"  Humble  servant, 

"  EDGAR  WHITING, 
"Lieut.  I2thlnf.  U.  S.  A." 

Having  read  this  letter  aloud,  the  President,  with 
out  comment,  placed  in  the  hands  of  his  guest  a 
bundle  of  papers.  It  is  only  necessary  to  tell  the 
reader  that  they  were  copies  of  the  same  documents 
which  Douglas  had  laid  before  his  father  and  uncle, 
each  one  duly  authenticated  by  the  attestation  o 
Lieutenant  Whiting. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  139 

Mr.  Van  Buren  now  threw  himself  back  upon  the 
sofa,  and  fixed  his  eye  on  the  face  of  his  companion 
with  an  expression  which  betokened  some  concern, 
not  unmixed  with  a  slight  enjoyment  of  the  perplexity 
with  which  the  purblind  old  man  pored  over  the 
papers.  Indeed,  his  uneasiness  could  hardly  have 
escaped  the  observation  of  a  casual  spectator,  lie 
shifted  his  seat ;  he  read ;  then  wiped  his  spectacles, 
and  read  again ;  then  wiped  his  brow ;  and  having 
gone  through  all  the  documents,  again  took  them  up 
in  order,  and  read  them  all  over  again.  When,  at 
length,  he  had  extracted  all  their  substance,  he  turned 
on  the  President  a  perplexed  and  anxious  look,  and 
remained  silent. 

At  length,  the  latter  spoke.  "  I  fear  we  have  made 
an  unlucky  blunder  in  this  business,  my  dear  sir," 
said  he. 

"I  fear  so  too,  sir,"  said  the  other.  ."But  I  beg 
leave  to  assure  your  Excellency  that  the  information 
I  took  the  liberty  to  communicate  was  a  simple  and 
exact  statement  of  what  I  learned  from  my  son, 
which,  I  trust,  your  Excellency  will  see  is  in  nowise 
contravened  by  these  documents.  I  certainly  was  no.t 
apprised  of  the  provocation  which,  it  is  here  said, 
was  offered  to  a  lady  under  Lieutenant  Trevor's  pro 
tection." 

"  Make  yourself  perfectly  easy  on  that  head,  my 
dear  sir,"  said  the  President.  "  I  give  myself  small 
concern  on  Lieutenant  Trevor's  account.  My  obli 
gations  to  his  father  are  more  than  discharged  by  the 


140  The  Partisan  Leader. 

rapid  advancement  of  his  elder  brother ;  and  he  can 
have  no  right  to  complain  that  proceedings  have  been 
instituted  to  inquire  into  a  matter  which,  even  thus 
explained,  places  his  loyalty  in  no  very  favorable 
light.  My  concern  is,  lest  the  prosecution  of  this 
investigation  should  lead  to  results  undesirable  to 
you." 

"  I  understand  your  Excellency,"  replied  the  hono 
rable  Mr.  Baker.  "  The  object  of  this  communication 
is  to  convey  a  covert  intimation  that,  if  proceedings 
against  Lieutenant  Trevor  are  not  stayed,  he  will  re 
venge  himself  by  endeavoring  to  dishonor  my  son.  I 
never  brought  him  up  to  be  the  *  butcher  of  a  silk 
button,'  and  don't  wonder  that  his  notions  of  gallan 
try,  &c.  &c.,  do  not  exactly  square  with  those  of  these 
preux  chevaliers" 

11  That  view  of  the  subject  is  doubtless  quite  philo 
sophical,"  said  the  President ;  "  and  if  you  regard 
it  in  that  light,  it  will  remove  all  difficulty  out  of  the 
way." 

"  I  cannot  exactly  say,"  replied  the  other,  "  that  I 
should  be  quite  willing  to  expose  my  son  to  the  pain 
of  seeing  these  documents  made  public ;  concocted,  as 
they  manifestly  have  been,  by  men  who  have  learned 
to  quarrel  by  the  book,  and  contrived  on  purpose  to 
shut  the  door  against  inquiry.  I  dare  say  he  would 
hardly  have  made  the  communication  I  received, 
could  he  have  anticipated  the  step  which  I  deemed 
it  my  duty  to  your  Excellency  to  take  in  conse 
quence  of  it." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  141 

"  The  misfortune  is,"  replied  the  President,  "  that 
I  have  already  caused  an  intimation  to  be  given  to 
Lieutenant  Trevor  that  it  may  be  necessary  to  order 
a  court-martial,  unless  he  thinks  proper  to  demand  a 
court  of  inquiry.  Either  way,  the  whole  affair  must 
come  out." 

"  Is  there  no  other  alternative  2"  asked  the  anxious 
father.  "Could  not  these  papers  be  suppressed? 
There  is  no  other  authentic  evidence  of  these  facts." 

"  Unfortunately,"  said  the  President,  to  whom  ha 
bitual  intercourse  with  the  base  had  made  the  feeling 
>f  contempt  so  familiar  that  he  repressed  it  without 
difficulty,  "  unfortunately  these  papers  are  but  copies. 
The  originals  are  doubtless  in  the  hands  of  Lieutenant 
Whiting,  whose  honor  cannot  be  questioned,  and  pro 
bably  they  will  be  farther  verified  by  the  handwriting 
of  your  son." 

"  What  then  can  be  done  ?"  asked  the  honorable 
Mr.  Baker,  in  a  state  of  unutterable  perplexity.  Ke- 
ceiving  no  answer,  he  sat  musing,  with  the  restless 
and  fidgeting  air  of  a  man  who  seeks  in  vain  for  some 
starting  point  for  his  thoughts.  He  was  at  length 
roused  from  his  reverie  by  two  strokes  of  the  bell, 
which  issued  from  the  clock-case  at  the  President's 
back.  The  signal  was  answered  by  the  touch  of  a 
hand-bell,  which  stood  on  a  table  near  him.  The  door 
opened.  The  gentleman  in  waiting  entered,  advanced 
to  the  table,  laid  a  packet  of  letters  before  the  Presi 
dent,  and  withdrew  in  silence. 

He  took  them  up,  shuffled  them  through  his 


142  The   Partisan  Leader. 

as  a  whist  player  runs  over  his  cards,  and  having  fixed 
his  eye  on  one,  took  it  out  of  the  parcel,  and  threw 
the  rest  on  the  table.  His  companion  having  in  the 
mean  time  relapsed  into  unconscious  reverie,  he  opened 
this,  and  ran  his  eye  over  the  contents. 

u  Here  is  good  news  for  us,  my  dear  sir,"  said  he. 
"  Lieutenant  Trevor  here  tenders  his  resignation, 
which,  perhaps,  may  put  an  end  to  the  difficulty." 

"  Perhaps  !"  exclaimed  the  other,  eagerly.  "  There 
can  be  no  doubt  about  it,  I  hope." 

"  None  at  all ;  if  his  accounts  are  all  adjusted,  of 
which  I  have  little  doubt.  But  it  is  not  customary 
to  let  go  our  hold  on  an  officer  by  accepting  his 
resignation,  until  that  matter  has  been  inquired  into." 

"  It  will  be  a  great  relief  to  me,"  faltered  out  Mr. 
Baker,  looking  at  the  President  with  an  anxious  and 
imploring  countenance — 

"  To  have  this  explained  at  once  "  said  Mr.  Yan 
Buren,  interrupting  him.  "You  shall  be  gratified, 
my  dear  sir." 

The  hand-bell  was  again  sounded.  The  gentleman 
in  waiting  re-appeared ;  a  few  words  were  spoken  to 
him  in  a  low  tone,  and  he  again  withdrew. 


The  Partisan  Leader  143 


CHAPTEE    XVI. 


His  thoughts  were  low, 


To  vice  industrious,  but  to  noble  deeds 
Timorous  and  slothful. 

MILTON. 

"THERE  is  something  in  this  business,"  said  the 
President,  after  a  silence  of  a  few  minutes,  "  which 
I  do  not  well  understand.  I  was  not  prepared  to 
find  Lieutenant  Trevor  so  ready  to  resign,  and  still 
less  to  receive  his  letter  of  resignation  through  the 
hands  of  his  father,  without  one  word  of  expostula 
tion  to  his  son,  or  to  me.  He  does  not  even  intimate 
any  the  least  regret  at  the  event.  What  can  this 

?H 

"  It  does  not  at  all  surprise  me,"  said  Mr.  Baker. 
"  Hugh  Trevor  was  always  a  visionary  and  uncertain 
man ;  and  his  influence  over  his  sons  is  such,  that  I 
should  consider  the  manifest  defection  of  Lieutenant 
Trevor  as  a  sure  proof  of  the  estrangement  of  the 
father." 

"  I  thought,"  said  the  President,  "  that  he  had  been 
always  remarkable  for  his  steadiness  and  fidelity." 

"  In  one  sense  he  is  so,"  replied  Baker.  "  But  his 
steadiness  is  of  the  wrong  sort.  He  is  one  of  those 
men  who  professes  to  be  governed,  and  I  dare  say  ia 


144  The  Partisan  Leader. 

governed,  by  principles.  But  his  principles  are  sc 
numerous,  and  so  hedge  him  around  and  beset  him  on 
every  side,  that  they  have  kept  him  standing  still  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  When  he  moves,  it  would 
take  an  expert  mathematician  to  calculate  the  result 
of  all  the  compound  forces  which  act  upon  him,  and 
to  decide  certainly  what  course  he  might  take." 

ullow  happens  it,  then,"  asked  the  President, 
"  that  I  have  always  found  him  so  loyal  and  faithful 
in  his  devotion  to  me  ?" 

"  Because  he  identified  your  Excellency  in  his  own 
mind  with  the  Union,  to  which  he  is  determined  to  sacri 
fice  every  thing  else.  But  now  that  disunion  has  come, 
and  the  question  is  ivhether  Virginia  shall  adhere  to  the 
North  or  join  the  South,  he  has  a  new  problem  to  work, 
and  how  he  may  work  it,  no  man  can  anticipate.  Hence 
I  say  he  is  uncertain." 

"But  does  he  think  nothing  of  the  advancement  of 
his  family?" 

"  It  seems  not,  in  this  instance.  That  is  what  I 
meant  when  I  said  that  his  principles  were  too  many. 
Your  Excellency  knows,"  continued  the  honorable 
gentleman,  with  a  contortion  of  the  mouth  meant  for 
A  smile,  and  which,  but  for  the  loss  of  his  teeth,  might 
have  produced  a  grin,  "  that  the  cardinal  number  of 
standard  principles  is  the  only  one  which  can  be 
counted  on." 

"  Have  you  then  any  information,"  asked  the  Pre 
sident,  "  which  leads  you  to  suspect  him  of  disaffec 
tion?"  t 


The   Partisan  Leader.  145 

"  None,"  replied  Baker ;  "  I  do  but  speak  from  my 
knowledge  of  the  man.  I  do  not  think  him  capable 
of  that  gratitude  for  the  many  favors  he  and  his  family 
have  received  which  should  bind  him  indissolubly  to 
your  Excellency's  service." 

"  It  is  well,  at  least,"  said  the  President,  "  that  one 
of  his  sons,  on  whom  most  of  those  favors  have  been 
lavished,  is  made  of  different  materials.  The  princi 
ples  of  Colonel  Trevor  are  exactly  of  the  right  sort ; 
or,  as  you  would  say,  my  dear  sir,  they  are  of  just  the 
right  number.  Could  I  obtain  any  information  of  the 
father's  movements,  which  might  give  me  just  cause 
to  doubt  him,  I  would  take  occasion  to  show  the  dif 
ference  I  make  between  the  faithful  and  the  unstable. 
I  would  refuse  to  receive  this  young  man's  resigna 
tion,  and  order  a  court-martial  immediately.  I  mis 
take  if  the  father  would  not  be  glad  to  extricate  him 
from  the  difficulty,  by  renouncing  some  of  these  fan 
tastic  notions  which  he  dignifies  by  the  name  of  prin 
ciples." 

"  I  beseech  your  Excellency,"  said  Baker,  forget 
ting  his  envious  spleen  against  the  virtuous  and  up 
right  friend  of  his  early  youth,  in  his  alarm  at  the 
mention  of  the  court-martial ;  "  I  beseech  your 
Excellency  not  to  understand  me  as  preferring  any 
charge  against  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor.  He  is  an  excellent 
man,  who  well  deserves  all  the  favors  he  has  received, 
and  will,  doubtless,  merit  many  more.  I  pray  that 
what  I  have  said  may  not  at  all  influence  you  to  any 
harsh  measures  against  him  or  his." 

7 


146  The  Partisan  Leader. 

The  tact  of  the  President  at  once  detected  the 
revulsion  of  Baker's  feelings,  and  the  cause.  Indeed, 
he  well  knew  both  the  men.  He  was  aware  that  all 
that  had  been  said  of  Mr.  Trevor  was  essentially  true. 
He  had,  therefore,  the  more  highly  prized  his  friend 
ship,  as  one  of  the  brightest  jewels  in  his  crown. 
He  had  taught  his  advocates  and  minions  to  point  to 
him  as  one,  whose  support  it  was  known  would  not 
be  given  to  any  man  but  from  a  sense  of  duty.  He 
was  himself  not  so  dead  to  virtue  as  not  to  respect  it 
in  another ;  and  his  favorable  dispositions  toward  Mr. 
Trevor,  and  the  benefits  bestowed  on  his  family,  had 
more  of  respect  and  gratitude  than  commonly  mingled 
in  his  feelings  or  actions.  Of  Baker,  he  had  rightly 
formed  a  different  estimate.  He  found  him  in  the 
shambles,  and  had  bought  and  used  him.  To  Baker, 
too,  Mr.  Trevor  appeared  only  as  one,  in  whose  life 
there  was  a  "daily  beauty  that  made  his  ugly;"  and  he 
had  seen,  with  malignant  envy,  the  honors  and  emolu 
ments  for  which  he  had  toiled  through  all  the  drudgery 
of  a  partisan,  freely  bestowed  on  the  unasking  and 
unpretending  merit  of  a  rival.  Gladly  would  he  have 
improved  the  distrust,  which  he  saw  had  entered  into 
the  mind  of  the  President,  had  he  not  been  warned 
that  the  first  effect  of  it  might  be  to  press  an  inquiry 
which  must  eventuate  in  the  irreparable  dishonor  of 
his  own  son. 

While  he  sat  meditating  on  these  things,  and  sub 
duing  his  malice  to  his  fears  and  his  interest,  the  door 
bell  sounded ;  the  single  stroke  from  the  clock-case 


The  Partisan  Leader.  147 

echoed  the  sound ;  the  door  opened ;  and  a  new  cha 
racter  appeared  on  the  stage. 

No  person  whose  name  appears  in  this  history  bet 
ter  deserves  a  particular  description  than  he  who  now 
entered.  Fortunately  I  am  saved  the  necessity  of 
going  into  it,  by  having  it  in  my  power  to  refer  the 
reader  to  a  most  graphic  delineation  of  his  exact  pro 
totype  in  person,  mind,  manners,  and  principles. 

In  Oliver  Dain,  or  Oliver  le  Diable,  as  he  was 
called,  the  favorite  instrument  of  the  crimes  of  that 
remorseless  tyrant  Louis  XL,  he  had  found  his  great 
exemplar.  The  picture  of  that  worthy,  as  drawn 
by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  Quentin  Durward,  is  the 
most  exact  likeness  of  one  man  ever  taken  for 
another.  It  is  not  even  worth  while  to  change  the 
costume  ;  for  although  he  did  not  appear  with  a  bar 
ber's  apron  girded  around  his  waist,  and  the  basin 
in  his  hands,  it  was  impossible  to  look  upon  him 
without  seeing  that  his  undoubted  talents,  and  the 
high  stations  he  had  filled,  still  left  him  fit  to  be 
employed  in  the  most  abject  and  menial  services. 

This  happy  compound  of  meanness,  malignity, 
treachery,  and  talent,  was  welcomed  by  the  Presi 
dent  with  a  nod  and  smile  at  once  careless  and 
gracious.  At  the  sight  of  him,  Mr.  Baker  made 
haste  to  rise,  and  bustled  forward  to  meet  and  salute 
him  with  an  air,  in  which,  if  there  was  less  of  ser 
vility,  there  was  more  of  the  eagerness  of  adulation 
than  he  had  displayed  toward  the  President  himself. 
The  earnest  inquiries  of  Mr.  Baker  after  his  health 


148  The  Partisan  Leader. 

&c.,  &c.,  were  answered  with  the  fawning  air  of  one 
who  feels  himself  much  obliged  by  the  notice  of  a 
superior,  and  he  then  turned  to  the  President  as  if 
waiting  his  commands.  These  were  communicated 
by  putting  into  his  hands  the  letters  of  Mr.  Hugh 
Trevor  and  his  son,  which  he  was  requested  to  read. 

While  he  read,  the  President,  turning  to  Mr.  Baker, 
said  :  "  While  I  thought  of  ordering  a  court-martial 
on  the  case  of  Lieutenant  Trevor,  I  deemed  it  advis 
able  to  have  all  his  military  transactions  looked  into, 
intending,  if  any  thing  were  amiss,  to  make  it  the 
subject  of  a  distinct  charge."  Then,  turning  to  the 
other,  he  added  :  "  You  have,  I  presume,  acquainted 
vourself  with  the  state  of  the  young  man's  accounts." 

"  I  have,  sir,"  was  the  reply.  "  They  have  been 
all  settled  punctually." 

"  Then  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  the  acceptance 
of  his  resignation  ?" 

"  Nothing  of  that  sort,  certainly,  sir.  But  has 
your  Excellency  observed  the  date  of  this  letter  of 
his  ?  You  may  see  that  he  does  not  date  from  his 
father's  house.  I  happen  to  know  this  place,  Truro, 
to  be  the  residence  of  that  pestilent  traitor,  his  uncle. 
Now,  if  the  charge  be  well  founded,  I  submit  to 
your  Excellency  whether  the  offender  should  be  per 
mitted  to  escape  prosecution  by  resigning.  If  it  be 
not  exactly  capable  of  being  substantiated,  yet  his 
readiness  to  resign  on  so  slight  an  intimation  ren 
ders  his  disaffection  at  least  probable,  and  his  date 
renders  it  nearly  certain.  Might  it  not  then  be 


The  Partisan  Leader.  149 

advisable  to  retain  the  hold  we  have  upon  him? 
The  court-martial  being  once  ordered,  additional 
charges  might  be  preferred  ;  and  I  much  mistake 
the  temper  of  the  country  where  he  is,  if  he  does 
not  furnish  matter  for  additional  charges  before  the 
month  of  April  passes  by." 

"  Why  the  month  of  April  ?"  asked  the  Presi 
dent. 

"  Because  then  the  elections  come  on  ;  and  there 
is  little  doubt  that  exertions  will  be  made  to  obtain 
a  majority  in  the  Legislature  of  men  disposed  to 
secede,  and  join  the  southern  confederacy.  In  that 
county,  in  particular,  I  am  well  advised  that  such 
exertions  will  be  made.  A  hen-hearted  fellow  has 
been  put  forward  as  the  candidate  of  the  malcon 
tents,  who  can  be  easily  driven  from  the  canvass  by 
his  personal  fears.  Let  the  aifair  once  take  that 
shape,  and  immediately  the  fantastic  notions  of  what 
southern  men  call  chivalry,  which  infest  the  brain 
of  this  old  drawcansir,  will  push  him  forward  as  a 
candidate.  I  had  made  some  arrangements  which, 
with  your  Excellency's  approbation,  I  had  proposed 
to  carry  into  effect  for  accomplishing  this  result,  in 
the  hope  of  bringing  him  into  collision  with  the  law 
of  treason,  and  so  getting  rid  at  once  of  a  dangerous 
enemy.  Now,  if  this  young  man's  resignation  be 
rejected,  and  a  court-martial  be  ordered,  the  part  he 
will  act  in  the  affair  can  hardly  fail  to  be  such  as  to 
make  his  a  ball-cartridge  case." 

"  Your  plan  is  exceedingly  well  aimed,"  said  the 


150  The  Partisan  Leader. 

President,  "  but  on  farther  reflection,  my  good 
friend  Mr.  Baker  is  led  by  feelings  of  delicacy  to 
wish  to  withdraw  his  charges.  I  am  loth  to  deny 
any  thing  to  one  who  merits  so  much  at  my  hands, 
but  still  there  are  difficulties  in  the  way  which  will 
not  permit  us  to  pursue  that  course.  The  acceptance 
of  this  resignation  will  effectually  remove  them,  and 
indirectly  gratify  the  wish  of  Mr.  Baker.  Now, 
what  do  you  advise  ?" 

In  the  act  of  asking  this  question,  the  President 
shifted  his  position  so  suddenly  as  to  call  the 
minion's  attention  to  the  motion.  lie  looked  up 
and  saw  his  master's  face  averted  from  Mr.  Baker, 
and  thought  he  read  there  an  intimation  that  he 
should  press  his  former  objection.  This  he  therefore 
did,  expressing  his  reluctance  to  give  advice  unfavor 
able  to  the  wishes  of  one  so  much  respected  as  Mr. 
Baker,  and  highly  complimenting  the  delicacy  of  his 
scruples. 

"  But  suppose,"  asked  the  President,  "  we  press 
the  passage  of  the  law  authorizing  a  court  to  sit 
here  for  the  trial,  by  a  jury  of  this  District,  of 
offences  committed  in  Yirginia.  In  that  case, 
should  our  young  cock  crow  too  loud,  we  might  find 
means  to  cut  his  comb  without  a  court-martial." 

"  That  Congress  will  pass  such  a  law  cannot  be 
doubted,"  said  the  other,"  were  it  not  vain  to  do  so, 
when  it  seems  to  be  understood  that  none  of  the 
judges  would  be  willing  to  execute  it.  I  am  tired 
of  hearing  of  constitutional  scruples." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  151 

"  I  am  bound  to  respect  them,"  replied  the  Presi 
dent,  meekly.  "  But  I  really  do  not  see  the  grounds 
for  them  in  such  a  case  as  this.  I  beg  pardon, 
Judge  Baker.  I  know  it  is  against  rule  to  ask  a 
judge's  opinion  out  of  court.  But  I  beg  you  to 
enlighten  me  so  far  as  to  explain  to  me  what  are  the 
scruples  which  the  bench  are  supposed  to  feel  on  this 
subject.  I  make  the  inquiry,  because  I  am  anxious 
to  accept  this  young  fellow's  resignation,  if,  in  doing 
so,  I  shall  not  lose  the  means  of  punishing  the 
offences  which  there  is  too  much  reason  to  think  he 
meditates.  To  try  him  in  Virginia  would  be  vain. 
Indeed,  I  doubt  whether  your  court  could  sit  there 
in  safety." 

"I  fear  it  could  not,"  replied  the  Judge,  "  and 
have  therefore  no  difficulty  in  saying,  that  the  neces 
sity  of  the  case  should  overrule  all  constitutional 
scruples.  I  have  no  delicacy  in  answering  your 
Excellency's  question  out  of  court.  It  is  merely  an 
inquiry,  which  I  hope  is  superfluous,  whether  I 
would  do  my  duty.  I  trust  it  is  not  doubted  that  I 
would ;  and  should  I  be  honored  with  your  Excel 
lency's  commands  in  that  behalf,  I  should  hold 
myself  bound  to  execute  them.  To  speak  more 
precisely :  should  the  court  be  established,  and  ] 
appointed  to  preside  in  it,  I  should  cheerfully  do 
so." 

"  That  then  removes  all  difficulty,"  said  the  Presi 
dent.  u  The  young  man's  resignation,  therefore, 
will  be  accepted,  and  measures  must  be  taken  to 


152  The  Partisan  Leader. 

distribute  troops  through  the  disaffected  counties  in 
such  numbers  as  may  either  control  the  display  of 
the  malcontent  spirit  at  the  polls,  or  invite  it  to  show 
itself  in  such  a  shape  as  shall  bring  it  within  the 
scope  of  your  authority,  and  the  compass  of  a 
halter." 

Some  desultory  conversation  now  arose  on  various 
topics,  more  and  more  remote  from  public  affairs. 
On  these  Mr.  Baker  would  have  been  glad  to  des 
cant,  and  perhaps  to  hear  the  thoughts  of  the  Presi 
dent  and  his  minister.  But  all  his  attempts  to 
detain  them  from  talking  exclusively  of  lightei 
matters  were  effectually  baffled  by  the  address  of 
the  former.  All  this  was  so  managed  as  to  wear 
out  the  evening,  without  giving  the  gentleman  the 
least  reason  to  suspect  that  he  was  in  the  way,  or 
that  the  great  men  who  had  seemed  to  admit  him 
to  their  confidence,  placed  themselves  iinder  the 
least  constraint  in  his  presence.  At  length  he  took 
his  leave. 


The  Partisan  leader.  153 


CHAPTEE    XYII. 

That  just  habitual  scorn,  which  could  contemn 
Men  and  their  thoughts,  'twas  wise  to  feel. 

BYRON. 

As  the  door  closed  behind  him,  the  countenance 
of  the  President  relaxed  into  a  smile,  indicative  of 
great  satisfaction  and  self-applause,  along  with  an 
•uncontrollable  disposition  to  merriment.  The  smile 
soon  became  a  quiet  laugh,  which  increased  in 
violence  without  ever  becoming  loud,  until  he  lay 
back  against  the  arm  of  the  sofa,  and  covered  his 
face  with  his  handkerchief.  At  length,  his  mirth 
exhausted  itself,  and  he  sat  erect,  looking  at  the 
Minister  with  the  countenance  of  one  about  to  make 
some  amusing  communication.  But  he  waited  to  be 
spoken  to,  and  remained  silent.  His  minion  took 
the  hint,  and  addressing  himself  to  what  he  supposed 
to  be  passing  in  his  master's  mind,  said  :  "  I  beseech 
your  Excellency  to  tell  me  by  what  sleight,  by  what 
tour  de  main,  this  hard  knot  about  jurisdiction  has 
been  made  to  slip  as  easily  as  a  hangman's  noose  ? 
I  feared  we  should  have  had  to  cut  it  with  the  sword, 
and  behold  it  unites  itself." 

7* 


-Leader. 


"  How  can  you  ask  such  a  question  ?"  said  the 
President,  with  mock  gravity.  "Did  you  not  hear 
the  elaborate  and  lucid  argument  by  which  the 
Judge  proved  incontestably  that  it  could  not  be 
unconstitutional  to  do  his  duty  ?  The  wonder  is  how 
they  ever  contrived  to  make  a  difficulty.  Surely 
none  who  shall  ever  hear  that  demonstration  can 
doubt  again." 

"  But  may  I  be  permitted  to  ask  by  what  means 
such  a  flood  of  light  has  been  poured  upon  his  mind  ? 
But  yesterday  he  was  dark  as  the  moon  in  its  peri 
helion.  Has  the  golden  ray  of  additional  favors 
again  caused  its  face  to  shine  ?" 

"  No,"  said  the  President. 

"  No  new  emoluments  to  him  or  his  ?" 

"  None  at  all,"  was  the  laughing  answer. 

"  No  new  honors  ?" 

"  None  ;  but  the  honor  of  doing  additional  duty, 
for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  without  additional  com 
pensation." 

"  In  the  name  of  witchcraft,  then,  what  has 
wrought  upon  him  ?" 

"  That  I  shall  not  tell  you,"  said  the  President, 
still  laughing.  "  That  is  my  secret.  That  part  of 
my  arc  you  shall  never  know.  It  is  one  of  the  jokes 
that  a  man  enjoys  the  better  for  having  it  all  to  him 
self.  I  keep  it  for  my  own  diversion.  It  is  a  sort 
of  royal  game.  You,  1  am  sure,  may  be  satisfied 
with  your  share  in  the  sport,  having  been  admitted 
to  hear  that  argument.  It  was  a  lesson  in  dialectics 


The  Partisan  Leader.  155 

worth  a  course  at  a  German  university.  But  come  ! 
There  is  a  time  to  laugh,  and  a  time  to  be  serious. 
What  do  you  propose  on  the  subject  of  these  Vir 
ginia  elections  ?" 

"  I  propose,"  said  the  Minister,  "  to  distribute 
some  five  hundred  men  in  certain  counties,  with  the 
dispositions  of  which  I  have  made  myself  acquainted, 
to  preserve  order  at  the  elections,  as  we  should  say 
to  the  uninitiated  ;  but  in  plain  English,  to  control 
them.  They  will  succeed  in  this,  or  provoke  vio 
lence.  Either  way,  we  carry  our  point.  We  pre 
vail  in  the  elections,  or  we  involve  the  members  elect 
in  a  charge  of  treason.  I  think  we  may  trust  Judge 
Baker  for  the  rest.  The  more  dangerous  of  our  ene 
mies  will  thus  fall  under  the  edge  of  the  law,  and 
the  less  efficient,  if  not  left  in  a  minority,  will  be 
powerless  for  want  of  leaders." 

"  But  the  scene  of  action,"  said  the  President,  "  is 
close  to  the  line.  The  offenders  may  escape  into 
North  Carolina,  and  from  thence  keep  up  a  commu 
nication  with  their  friends.  They  may  even  ven 
ture  to  Richmond  at  a  critical  moment,  and  effect 
their  great  purpose,  or  they  may  adjourn  to  some 
place  of  greater  security." 

"It  will  certainly  be  necessary,"  said  the  Minister, 
"to -guard  against  that,  by  increasing  the  number  of 
troops  at  the  seat  of  government.  Besides,  if  we  can  but 
get  one  day  to  ourselves,  their  chance  of  legislative 
action  may  be  broken  up  by  adjournment  sine  die" 

"  Then,  with  so  many  points  in   the  game  in  OUT 


156  The  Partisan  Leader. 

favor,"  replied  the  President,  "  we  have  hut  to  play 
it  boldly  and  we  must  win.  It  shall  go  hard,  too, 
if,  in  the  end,  we  do  not  make  this  superfluous  State 
Legislature,  this  absurd  relic  of  vmperium  in 
im/periO)  abolish  itself.  At  all  events,  the  course  of 
conduct  which  they  will  necessarily  pursue,  must 
sink  the  body  in  public  estimation,  and  dispose  the 
people  to  acquiesce  in  the  union  of  all  power  in  the 
hands  of  the  Central  Government.  We  can  then 
restore  them  all  the  benefits  of  real  and  efficient 
local  legislation,  by  erecting  these  degraded  sove 
reignties  into  what  they  ought  always  to  have  been 
— municipal  corporations,  exercising  such  powers  as 
we  choose  to  grant." 

Some  farther  conversation  ensued,  in  which  details 
were  settled.  A  minute  was  made  of  the  points  at 
which  troops  should  be  stationed ;  the  number  of 
men  to  be  placed  at  each  ;  and  the  corps  from  which 
they  were  to  be  drawn.  It  was  left  to  the  Minister 
to  fix  on  proper  persons  to  command  each  party,  and 
to  devise  instructions  as  to  the  part  to  be  acted.  In 
some  places  it  was  proposed  simply  to  awe  the  elec 
tions  b^  the  mere  presence  of  the  military.  In  some, 
to  control  them  by  actual  or  threatened  violence. 
In  others,  insult  was  to  be  used,  tumult  excited, 
resistance  provoked,  and  dangerous  men  drawn  in, 
to  commit  acts  which  might  be  denounced  as 
criminal.  Having  thus  possessed  himself  of  his 
master's  will,  this  modern  Sejanus  withdrew  to  give 
necessary  orders  for  effecting  it 


The  Partisan  Leader.  157 

"  The  only  truly  wise  man  that  I  know  in  the 
world,"  said  the  President,  looking  after  him.  "  The 
only  one  who  knows  man  as  he  is ;  who  takes  no 
account  of  human  virtue,  but  as  one  form  of  human 
weakness.  In  his  enemies,  it  gives  him  a  power 
over  them  which  he  always  knows  how  to  use.  In 
his  instruments,  he  desires  none  of  it.  Why  cannot 
I  profit  more  by  his  instruction  and  example?  Fool 
that  I  am !  I  will  try  to  practise  a  lesson." 

He  rang  the  bell,  and  directed  that  the  Minister 
should  be  requested  to  return. 

He  had  not  yet  left  the  palace,  and  soon  re-ap 
peared.  As  he  entered,  the  President  said :  "  This 
young  Trevor  !  He  has  talent,  has  he  not  ?" 

"  Talent  of  every  kind,"  said  the  Minister. 

"That  he  has  a  superabundance  of  what  fools  call 
honor  and  gallantry,  I  happen  to  know.  I  suppose 
his  other  virtues  are  in  proportion  ?" 

"  I  suspect  so,  from  the  example  of  the  father,  and 
all  I  can  learn  of  the  son." 

"  Can  you  then  doubt  of  his  ultimate  course  ?  or 
even  that  of  his  father?  Do  you  doubt  that  if  the 
standard  of  rebellion  is  once  raised,  the  young  man 
will  be  found  fighting  under  it,  with  the  old  man's 
approbation  ?" 

"  Not  at  all.  I  know  no  man  who  would  raise  it 
sooner  than  himself,  after  he  has  had  time  to  be 
thoroughly  indoctrinated  by  his  uncle." 

"Then  the  sooner  the  better.  He  is  but  a  cocke 
rel  yet.  What  if  he  can  be  brought  to  commit 


158  The  Partisan  Leader. 

himself  before  his    spurs  have  acquired  their   full 
length?" 

"Nothing  could  be  more  judicious,  and  nothing 
easier." 

"  How  would  you  go  about  it  ?" 

"Let  him  have  a  letter  neither  accepting  nor 
rejecting.  Intimating  the  necessity  of  farther  inves 
tigation  of  his  accounts,  &c.,  &c.,  before  we  let  him 
off,  and  requiring  him,  for  the  convenience  of  farther 
correspondence,  to  remain  at  the  place  from  whence 
his  letter  is  dated.  Keep  him  fretted  in  this  until 
the  election  is  near  at  hand,  and,  a  day  or  two 
before,  let  him  receive  a  letter  accepting  his  resig 
nation.  My  life  upon  it,  he  will  spring  to  his 
destruction  like  a  bow,  when  the  string  is  cut,  that 
snaps  by  its  own  violence." 

"  You  are  right,"  said  the  President.  "  That  will 
do.  Much  will  depend  on  the  style  of  that  letter. 
You  have  your  hands  too  full  to  be  troubled  with 
such  things,  or  I  should  ask  you  to  do  what  no  man 
can  do  so  well.  But  you  have  your  pupils,  who 
have  learned  of  you  to  say  what  is  to  be  said,  so  as 
just  to  produce  the  desired  effect,  and  no  other." 

The  instrument  of  the  royal  pleasure  again  with 
drew.  Again  the  President  looked  after  him,  and 
said,  musingly:  "Were  I  not  myself,  I  would  be 
that  man.  I  should  even  owe  him  a  higher  compli 
ment  could  one  be  devised,  for,  but  for  him,  I  had 
never  been  what  I  am.  What  then?  Is  he  the 
creator,  arid  am  I  his  creature?  No.  I  am  wrong 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


Could  he  have  made  himself  what  I  am,  he  would 
have  done  so.  He  has  but  fulfilled  my  destiny,  and 
I  his.  He  has  made  me  what  I  alone  was  capable 
of  becoming,  and  I,  in  turn,  have  made  him  all  that 
he  ever  can  be.  I  owe  him  nothing,  therefore  ;  and 
should  he  ever  be  guilty  of  any  thing  like  virtue, 
there  is  nothing  to  hinder  me  from  lopping  off  any 
such  superfluous  excrescence,  even  if  his  head  should 
go  with  it.  But  he  is  in  no  danger  on  that  score. 
If  he  held  his  life  by  no  other  tenure,  his  immortality 
would  be  sure." 

"While  the  master  thus  soliloquized,  the  minion 
was  wending  his  way  home,  to  the  performance  of 
the  various  duties  assigned  him.  Our  present  busi 
ness  is  with  the  letter  to  Douglas  alone.  The  pen 
of  a  ready  and  skilful  writer  was  employed,  the 
document  was  prepared,  submitted  to  the  inspection 
of  the  President,  approved  by  him,  signed  "  by 
order"  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  committed  to  the 
mail,  and  forwarded  to  Douglas.  Let  us  accom 
pany  it. 


160  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTEE    XVIII. 


Behold  the  tools, 


The  broken  tools  that  tyrants  cast  away 

By  myriads. BYRON. 

BEHOLD  us  then,  once  more,  at  the  door  of  Mr. 
Bernard  Trevor's  little  study.  The  uncle  and  ne 
phew  are  together.  A  servant  enters  with  letters 
from  the  post-office,  and  we  enter  with  him.  The 
letters  are  opened,  and  Douglas  having  read  that 
of  the  Secretary  of  War,  hands  it  to  his  uncle.  Let 
us  read  with  him. 

"  SIR  :  I  have  it  in  command  from  his  Excellency 
the  President  to  say,  that  your  letter  of  resignation 
has  been  received  with  surprise  and  regret. 

"  He  lias  seen  with  surprise  that,  at  a  moment  of 
such  critical  importance,  one  who  had  been,  as  it 
were,  the  foster-child  of  the  Union,  should  seize,  with 
apparent  eagerness,  a  pretext  to  desert  the  banner  of 
his  too  partial  sovereign. 

"  His  regret  is  not  at  the  loss  of  service,  which, 
rendered  by  one  capable  even  of  meditating  such  a 
step,  would,  at  best,  be  merely  nominal ;  bat  at  the 
thought  that  that  one  is  the  son  of  a  friend  so  long 
cheribhed  and  so  much  respected  as  your  father. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  161 

"  I  am  farther  charged  to  remind  you,  that  resig 
nation,  when  resorted  to  for  the  purpose  of  evading 
military  prosecution,  is  always  deemed  little  short 
of  a  confession  of  guilt.  In  most  cases,  this  pro 
duces  no  embarrassment.  The  loss  of  the  commis 
sion  is  generally  an  adequate  punishment ;  and  it  is, 
in  such  cases,  well  to  leave  the  conscience  and  the 
fears  of  the  accused  to  inflict  that  punishment,  rati 
fying  the  sentence  by  prompt  acceptance  of  the 
proffered  resignation. 

"  But  this  does  not  hold  in  all  cases.  The  Presi 
dent  bids  me  say  that  he  is  not  yet  prepared  how  to 
act  in  one  of  so  serious  a  character  as  this.  His 
regard  for  your  father  is  the  source  of  this  per 
plexity.  He  requires  time  to  reflect  how  far  he  can 
reconcile  to  his  public  duty  that  tenderness  to  the 
feelings  of  a  friend  which  makes  him  desirous,  if 
possible,  to  stay  inquiry  by  accepting  your  resigna 
tion.  Under  other  circumstances,  he  would  not 
hesitate  to  reject  it,  and  instantly  order  a  court- 
martial,  as  the  proper  means  of  bringing  to  prompt 
and  merited  punishment  an  offence  which,  I  am 
charged  to  say,  he  considers  as  virtually  admitted 
by  your  attempt  to  evade  a  trial ;  when,  if  innocent, 
you  would  certainly  wish  an  investigation,  in  order 
to  establish  your  innocence. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  am  instructed  to  say,  that  for 
the  purpose  of  further  communication,  if  necessary, 
and  to  facilitate  such  measures  as  it  may  be  deemed 
proper  to  take  in  relation  to  you,  I  am  required  tc 


162  The  Partisan  Leader. 

keep  myself  advised  of  your  locality.  To  save 
trouble,  therefore,  I  deem  it  advisable  to  command 
you  to  remain  at  the  place  from  whence  your  letter 
of  resignation  was  dated,  and  to  which  this  is 
directed,  until  farther  orders. 

"  Yours,  &c.,  &c. 
("  By  order  of  the  President.") 

This  letter  Mr.  Trevor  read  with  calm  and  quiet 
attention,  carefully  weighing  every  phrase  and  word, 
while  Douglas,  perceiving  the  handwriting  of  his 
friend  Whiting  on  the  back  of  another,  hastily  tore 
it  open,  and  read  as  follows : 

"  I  never  performed  a  more  painful  duty  in  my 
life,  my  dear  Trevor,  than  in  putting  the  seal  and 
superscription  to  the  accompanying  letter  from  the 
Secretary. 

"  My  situation  in  the  Department  should  have 
given  me  earlier  notice  of  what  was  passing,  but  I 
got  no  hint  of  it  until  yesterday.  I  immediately 
did  what  I  believed  to  be  my  duty  as  a  friend  ; 
though  1  am  now  fearful  that  what  I  did  may  not 
meet  your  entire  approbation.  I  am  sensible  you 
would  not  have  done  it  for  yourself;  but  there  are 
some  things  which  delicacy  forbids  us  to  do  in  our 
own  case,  which  we  are  not  displeased  to  have  done 
by  others.  Indeed,  had  I  known  that  the  matter 
had  gone  so  far,  I  should  have  left  it  in  your  own 
hands.  But  I  had  no  reason  to  believe  that  any 
intimation  of  it  had,  as  yet,  been  given  to  you,  and 


The  Partisan  Leader.  163 

I  wished  to  prevent  any  step  whatever  from  being 
taken. 

"  With  this  view  I  ventured  to  lay  the  whole 
correspondence  before  the  President.  I  know  that 
he  received  and  read  it.  You  will  therefore  judge 
my  surprise  at  being  required,  to-day,  to  forward 
the  unprecedented  document  which  accompanies 
this. 

"  I  am  guilty  of  no  breach  of  duty  when  I  assure 
you  that  that  paper  is  sent,  as  it  imports  on  its  face, 
'  by  the  order  of  the  President.'  The  Secretary  is 
not  responsible  even  for  one  word  of  it.  The  very 
handwriting  is  unknown  to  me,  and  it  was  sent  to 
the  department  precisely  in  the  shape  in  which  you 
receive  it. 

"  Knowing  what  I  did,  I  should  have  doubted 
whether  it  had  not  been  surreptitiously  placed 
among  other  papers  transmitted  to  us  at  the  same 
time.  But  there  is  no  room  for  mistake.  It  came 
accompanied  by  the  most  authentic  evidence  that 
it  had  been  read  and  approved  by  the  President 
himself. 

"  I  find  myself  placed  in  a  delicate  situation. 
Here  is  an  avowal  of  full  faith  in  a  charge  disproved 
by  my  positive  assurance  :  a  charge  that  no  one  can 
believe,  who  does  not  believe  me  capable  of  basely 
fabricating  the  documents,  copies  of  which  the  Pre 
sident  has,  authenticated  under  my  hand. 

"  Your  own  course  leaves  no  doubt  what  you 
would  advise  me  to  do,  under  such  circumstances 


164  The  Partisan  Leader. 

But  my  lot  in  life  is  different  from  yours.  Impatient 
as  I  am  of  this  indignity,  I  fear  I  shall  be  constrained 
to  bear  it.  c  My  poverty  but  not  my  will  consents.' 
I  do  not,  therefore,  ask  you  to  advise  me,  for  I  would 
not  do  so,  unless  prepared  to  give  to  your  advice 
more  weight  than  I  can  allow  it.  It  could  add 
nothing  to  the  convictions  of  my  own  mind,  and  the 
indignant  writhings  of  my  own  wounded  honor  ;  and 
even  these,  God  help  me,  I  am  forced  to  resist ! 

"  This  affair  has,  as  yet,  made  no  noise.  It  is 
not  at  all  known  of  in  the  army ;  but  I  think  I  can 
assure  you  of  the  sympathy  of  all  whose  regard  you 
value,  and  their  unabated  confidence  in  your  honor 
and  fidelity.  I  shall  make  it  my  business,  be  the 
consequence  to  myself  what  it  may,  to  do  you  ample 
justice.  Indeed,  my  indignation  makes  me  so  reck 
less  of  consequences,  that,  apart  from  the  necessity 
of  bearing  insult  from  one  from  whom  no  redress 
can  be  demanded,  I  am  not  sure  that  I  do  not  envy 
your  lot. 

"  That  your  resignation  will  eventually  be  ac 
cepted,  cannot  be  doubted.  What  is  the  motive  to 
this  letter,  it  is  hard  to  say ;  but  certainly  it  does 
not  proceed  from  such  a  disposition  as  would  wil 
lingly  afford  you  an  opportunity  of  triumphant 
vindication. 

"  God,  Hess  you,  my  dear  Trevor.  We  have  indi 
cations  that  stirring  times  are  at  hand,  which  will 
tempt  me  to  exchange  the  pen  for  the  sword.  Where 
duty  may  call  me,  I  cannot  anticipate ;  but  it  will 


The  Partisan  Leader.  165 

be  strange  if  the  charms  of  a  life  of  active  service 
don't  bring  us  together  again.  Meet  when  we  may, 
you  will  find  still  and  unalterably,  your  friend, 

"E.  W." 

Having  read  this  second  letter,  Douglas  passed  it 
also  to  his  uncle,  and,  rising,  hastily  left  the  house. 
It  is  needless  to  scan  the  thoughts  that  accompanied 
him  in  his  ramble.  They  were  bitter  and  fierce 
enough.  But  he  had  learned,  in  early  life,  to  master 
his  feelings,  and  never  to  venture  into  the  presence 
of  others  until  the  mastery  had  been  established. 
Many  a  weary  mile  did  he  walk  that  day  before  his 
purpose  was  accomplished,  but  having  at  last  effected 
it,  he  returned. 

Mr.  Trevor  had  found  leisure,  in  the  mean  time, 
to  scrutinize  the  letters  in  whole  and  in  detail,  and 
had,  at  length,  arrived  at  a  conclusion  not  far  from 
the  truth.  He  was  prepared,  therefore,  to  welcome 
the  return  of  Douglas  with  a  cheerful  smile ;  and 
instead  of  adding  to  his  excitement  by  any  expres 
sion  of  resentment  or  disgust,  endeavored  to  calm 
and  soothe  him.  For  such  conduct  the  young  man 
was  altogether  unprepared.  Aware  of  his  uncle's 
wishes  in  regard  to  him,  he  had  looked  for  some 
thing  different,  and  had  endeavored  to  fortify  his 
mind  against  such  impressions  as  he  feared  he  might 
attempt  to  make  on  it.  The  great  principles  by 
which  he  had  been  taught  to  govern  himself  were 
not  false  because  he  had  been  wronged.  His  duty 


i66  The  Partisan  Leader. 

i>  the  Union  was  not  affected  ~by  the  injustice  of  the 
President.  So  his  father  would  have  reasoned  the 
matter,  and  like  his  father,  he  determined,  if  pos 
sible,  to  think  and  act.  But  he  had  no  idea  that  in 
this  attempt  he  would  receive  countenance  and  even 
aid  from  his  uncle.  It  may,  therefore,  be  readily 
believed  that  the  old  gentleman  rose  yet  higher  in 
his  esteem  and  confidence,  from  the  delicacy  and 
forbearance  which  he  so  unexpectedly  practised. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  167 


CHAPTEE    XIX. 

Stone  walls  do  not  a  prison  make, 

Nor  iron  bars  a  cage.  LOVELACE. 

IT  was  settled,  on  consultation,  that  he  should 
abide  the  final  event ;  and  that,  until  then,  nothing 
of  what  had  passed  should  be  made  known  to  his 
father,  to  Delia,  or  to  any  of  the  family  but  Mrs. 
Trevor.  In  her  he  had  learned  to  seek  an  adviser, 
and  in  her  he  always  found  one — sincere,  sagacious, 
and  discreet.  Mr.  Trevor,  as  I  have  said,  was  not  a 
man  from  whose  opinions  his  wife  would  probably 
dissent,  but  he  had  not  contented  himself  to  com 
mand  her  blind,  unreasoning  acquiescence.  He  had 
trained  her  mind  ;  he  had  furnished  her  with  mate 
rials  for  thought ;  and  he  had  taught  her  to  think. 
She  was  in  all  his  confidence,  and  he  consulted  with 
her  habitually  on  plans  which  involved  the  welfare 
of  his  country.  From  her,  therefore,  the  history  of 
Douglas's  entanglement  with  the  authorities  at 
"Washington  was  not  concealed.  From  the  rest  of 
the  family  it  was  a  profound  secret ;  and.  as  Mr. 
Trevor's  health  was  now  much  restored,  it  did  not 
interrupt  the  enjoyments  of  the  genial  season  which 


i68  The  Partisan  Leader. 

invited  them  to  seek  amusement  out  of  doors.  By 
means  of  this,  the  impatience  of  Douglas  was  di 
verted,  and  he  found  it  quite  easy  to  accomplish  his 
philosophical  determination  to  wait  the  result  of  the 
affair  in  patience. 

When,  at  length,  a  week  had  been  allowed  him  to 
fret  his  heart  out,  the  deferred  acceptance  of  his 
resignation  was  received.  This,  too,  was  couched  in 
phrases  of  decorous  and  studied  insult.  But  he  had 
learned  to  think  that  the  dastard  blow  struck  by  one 
who  screens  himself  behind  the  authority  of  office, 
inflicts  no  dishonor.  The  interval,  which  had  been 
intended  to  give  his  passions  time  to  work  them 
selves  into  a  tempest,  had  subdued  them.  Reason 
had  taken  the  ascendant,  and  though  his  reflections 
had  not  been  much  more  favorable  to  the  authority 
of  his  former  master,  than  tlie  promptings  of  his 
resentment,  they  were  much  less  suited  to  his  pre 
sent  purpose.  He  was  effectually  weaned  ;  divested 
of  all  former  prepossessions,  and  ready  to  yield  to 
the  dictates  of  calm,  unbiassed  reason.  He  sought 
his  uncle,  and  with  a  quiet  and  cheerful  smile,  handed 
him  the  letter. 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Trevor  read  it,  he  exclaimed, 
4  Thank  God  !  you  are  now  a  freeman." 

"I  am  truly  thankful  for  it,"  replied  Douglas, 
"  though  I  feel  as  if  I  shall  never  lose  the  mark  of 
tho  collar  which  reminds  me  that  I  have  been  a 
slave.  But,  until  within  a  short  time  past,  I  have 
never  felt  that  I  was." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  169 

"  "When  the  bondage  reaches  to  the  mind,"  said 
Mr.  Trevor,  « it  is  not  felt." 

"  And  was  mine  enslaved,"  asked  Douglas,  "  when 
my  thoughts  were  as  free  as  air  ? " 

"  Their  prison  was  airy,"  replied  the  old  gentle 
man,  "  and  roomy,  and  splendidly  fitted  up.  But 
look  at  the  President's  letters,  and  see  the  penalties 
you  might  have  incurred,  had  your  freedom  of 
thought  rambled  into  such  opinions  as  many  of  your 
best  friends  entertain." 

"  Still,"  replied  Douglas,  "  the  penalty  would  have 
attached,  not  to  the  opinion,  but  to  the  expression 
of  it." 

"  And  do  you  think  your  mind  would  work  without 
constraint,  in  deciding  between  opinions  which  it 
might  be  unsafe  to  express,  and  those  which  would 
be  regarded  as  meritorious !" 

"I  can,  at  least,  assure  you  that  such  a  thought 
as  that  never  occurred  to  me." 

"  But  it  occurred  to  your  friends.  It  tied  my 
tongue,  and,  I  suspect,  your  father's  too,  of  late. 
Now  that  I  am  free  to  speak,  let  me  ask,  wherein 
would  have  been  the  criminality  of  expressing  the 
opinions  imputed  to  you?  " 

"  It  would  have  been  inconsistent  with  my  duty 
of  allegiance." 

"  Allegiance  !  To  whom  f  You  will  not  say  to 
King  Martin  the  First  f  To  what  ? 

"  To  the  constitution  of  the  United  States.     1  was 

bound  by  oath  to  support  that" 

8 


170  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  And  what  if  your  mews  of  the  constitution  had 
shown  you  that  the  acts  of  the  Government  were  vio 
lations  of  the  constitution,  and  that  the  men  de 
nounced  by  Baker  as  traitors  were  its  most  steady 
supporters.  What  duty  would  your  oath  have  pre 
scribed  in  that  case  ?  Would  you  support  the  con 
stitution  by  taking  part  with  those  who  trampled  it 
under  foot,  against  those  who  upheld  it  as  long  as 
there  was  hope?  " 

"  I  should  have  distrusted  my  own  judgment. 
Surely,  you  would  not  have  me  set  up  that  against 
the  opinions  of  the  legislative,  executive,  and  judi 
ciary,  all  concurrently  expressed  according  to  the 
forms  of  the  constitution." 

"  "What  then  must  /  do  ? "  asked  Mr.  Trevor. 
"  Be  the  opinions  of  all  these  men  what  they  may, 
the  constitution,  after  all,  is  what  it  is.  As  such,  I 
am  bound  to  support  it.  Now,  when  I  have  schooled 
myself  into  all  possible  respect  for  their  judgment, 
and  all  possible  diffidence  of  my  own,  if  I  still  think 
that  they  are  clearly  in  error,  is  it  ~by  conforming  to 
their  opinion  or  my  own  that  1  shall  satisfy  my  own 
conscience,  to  which  my  oath  binds  me,  that  I  do  actu 
ally  support  the  constitution  f  " 

"  I  suppose,"  said  Douglas,  "  you  must,  in  that 
case,  conform  to  your  own  convictions." 

"  Then  I  may,  at  last,  trust  to  my  own  judgment 
when  I  have  no  longer  any  doubt." 

"  You  must  of  necessity." 

"  And  you,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  who  were  not  free 


The  Partisan  Leader.  171 

to  do  so — who,  in  the  matter  of  an  oath,  were  to  ho 
guided,  not  by  your  own  conscience,  hut  by  the  con 
sciences  of  other  men — was  your  mind  free  ? " 

Douglas  colored  high,  and,  after  a  long  pause, 
said  :  "  I  see  that  I  have  been  swinging  in  a  gilded 
cage,  and  mistook  its  motions  for  those  of  my  own 
will.  I  see  it,  and  again  respond  cordially  to  your 
ejaculation  :  Thank  God  !  I  am  free." 

"I  rejoice  at  it,  especially,"  said  Mr.  Trevor, 
"  because  now  all  reserve  is  at  an  end  between  us. 
Heretofore,  in  all  my  intercourse  with  you,  my 
tongue  has  been  tied  on  the  subject  of  which  I  think 
most,  and  on  which  I  feel  most  deeply.  I  find  it 
hard  to  speak  to  a  son  of  Virginia  without  speaking 
of  her  wrongs,  and  the  means  of  redressing  them.  It 
is  harder  still,  when  he  to  whom  1  speak  is  my  own 
son  too" 

"  /  have  long  ago  learned  from  my  father"  said 
Douglas,  "  that  the  whole  South  has  'been  much  op- 
pressed.  I  know,  too,  that  he  attributes  the  oppres 
sion  to  the  exercise  of  powers  not  granted  ly  the  con 
stitution.  But,  with  every  disposition  to  resist  this 
oppression,  he  taught  me  to  hear  it  sooner  than  incur 
the  evils  of  disunion." 

«  What  are  they  ?" 

"  Weakness,  dissention,  and  the  danger  to  liberty 
from  the  standing  armies  of  distinct  and  rival 
powers." 

"  Hence  you  have  never  permitted  yourself  to  look 
narrowly  into  the  question." 


172  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  I  never  have.  I  have  no  doubt  of  our  wrongs  ; 
but  I  have  never  suffered  myself  to  weigh  them 
against  disunion.  That  I  have  been  taught  to  regard 
as  the  maximum  of  evil." 

"  But  disunion  has  now  come.  The  question  now 
is,  whether  you  shall  continue  to  bear  these  wrongs, 
or  seek  the  remedy  offered  by  an  invitation  to  join 
the  Southern  Confederacy.  The  evils  of  which  you 
speak  would  certainly  not  be  increased  by  such  a 
step.  We  might  weaken  the  North,  but  not  our 
selves.  As  to  standing  armies,  here  we  have  one 
among  us.  The  motive  which  that  danger  presented 
is  now  reversed  in  its  operation.  While  we  remain 
as  we  are,  the  standing  army  is  fastened  upon  us. 
By  the  proposed  change  we  shake  it  off.  Then,  as  to 
dissension,  if  there  is  no  cause  of  war  now,  there 
would  be  none  then.  Indeed  the  only  cause  would 
be  removed,  and  it  would  be  seen  that  both  parties 
had  every  inducement  to  peace.  Even  in  the  present 
unnatural  condition,  you  see  that  the  separation 
having  once  taken  place,  there  remains  nothing  to 
quarrel  about." 

"  What,  then,"  said  Douglas,  "  is  the  meaning  of 
all  this  military  array  that  I  see  ?  A.re  no  hostile 
movements  apprehended  from  the  Southern  Con 
federacy  ?" 

"Not  at  all.  They  have  no  such  thought.  The 
talk  of  such  things  is  nothing  but  a  pretext  for  muz 
zling  Virginia." 

"  How  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  Douglas. 


The  Partisan  Leader  173 

"  You  will  know  if  you  attend  the  election  in  this 
county  to-morrow.  You  will  then  see  that,a  detach 
ment  of  troops  has  been  ordered  here  on  the  eve  oi 
the  election.  The  ostensible  use  of  it,  is  to  aid  in 
the  prevention  of  smuggling,  or,  in  other  words,  in 
the  enforcement  of  the  odious  tariff,  and  a  participa 
tion  in  the  advantages  our  southern  neighbors  enjoy 
since  they  have  shaken  it  off.  But  you  will  see  this 
force  employed  to  brow-beat  and  intimidate  the 
people,  and  to  drive  from  the  polls  such  as  cannot 
be  brought  to  vote  in  conformity  to  the  will  of  our 
rulers.  Go  back  to  Richmond  next  winter,  and  you 
will  see,  the  force  stationed  there  increased  to  what 
will  l>e  called  an  army  of  observation.  In  the  midst 
of  this,  the  Legislature  will  hold  its  mock  delibera 
tions  ;  and  you  will  find  advanced  posts  so  arranged 
as  to  bridle  the  disaffected  counties,  and  prevent  the 
people  from  marching  to  the  relief  of  their  repre 
sentatives.  By  one  or  the  other,  or  both  of  these 
operations,  Virginia  will  be  prevented  from  express 
ing  her  will  in  the  only  legitimate  way,  and  her 
eons,  who  take  up  arms  in  her  behalf,  will  be  stig 
matised  as  traitors,  not  only  to  the  United  States,  but 
to  her. 


174  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

Ah,  villain  1  thou  wilt  betray  me,  and  get  a  thousand  crowns  of  the 
King  for  carrying  my  head  to  him. 

SHAKSPEARE. 

As  Mr.  Trevor  had  intimated,  the  next  day  was 
the  day  for  the  election  of  members  to  the  State 
Legislature.  The  old  gentleman,  in  spite  of  his 
infirmities,  determined  to  be  present.  He  ordered 
his  barouche,  and  provided  with  arms  both  the  ser 
vant  who  drove  him,  and  one  who  attended  on 
horseback.  He  armed  himself  also  with  pistols  and  a 
dirk,  and  recommended  a  like  precaution  to  Douglas. 
"  You  must  go  on  horseback,"  said  he.  "  It  may 
enable  you  to  act  with  more  efficiency  on  an  emer 
gency.  At  all  events,  were  you  to  drive  me,  I 
should  have  no  excuse  for  taking  one  whose  services 
I  would  not  willingly  dispense  with.  Give  me  the 
world  to  choose  from,  and  old  Tom's  son  Jack  is  the 
man  I  would  wish  to  have  beside  me  in  the  hour  of 
danger.  As  to  you,  my  son,  I  think  your  late  master 
would  not  be  sorry  to  get  you  into  a  scrape.  You 
should,  therefore,  be  on  your  guard.  My  infirmities 
will  render  your  personal  aid  necessary  to  help  me 
to  the  polls.  Keep  near  me,  therefore ;  but  keep 


The  Partisan  Leader.  17$ 

cool,  and  leave  me  to  fight  my  own  battles.  Pru 
dence  and  forbearance  are  necessary  for  you.  As 
to  me,  I  have  nothing  to  hazard.  The  measure  of 
my  offences  is  full  already.  I  have  sinned  the  un 
pardonable  sin,  and  although  there  is  no  name  for  it 
in  the  statute  book,  I  have  no  doult  if  they  had  me 
before  their  new  Court  of  High  Commission  at  Wash 
ington,  your  special  friend,  Judge  Baker,  would  find 
one." 

"  Why  do  you  call  him  my  special  friend?"  asked 
Douglas. 

"  Because  I  have  means  of  being  advised  of  what 
is  doing  among  our  rulers,  and  know  that  he  was  at 
the  bottom  of  the  whole  proceeding  against  you. 
Therefore,  I  warn  you  to  be  prudent  to-day.  De 
pend  upon  it,  if  you  can  be  taken  in  a  fault,  he  will 
find  means  '  to  feed  fat  his  grudge'  against  you." 

On  reaching  the  election  ground,  the  stars  and 
stripes  were  seen  floating  above  the  door  of  the 
court-house,  which  was  still  closed.  A  military 
parade  was  "  being  enacted"  for  the  amusement 
of  the  boys  and  cake- women,  and  the  uniform 
showed  that  the  men  were  regulars  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States.  They  were  twenty  or  thirty  in 
number,  all  completely  armed  and  equipped.  As 
soon  as  Mr.  Trevor  appeared,  they  were  dismissed 
from  parade,  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and  they 
rushed  into  the  house.  Presently  after,  it  was  pro 
claimed  that  the  polls  were  opened. 

As   Mr.  Trevor  approached   the   door,  Douglas 


176  The  Partisan  Leader. 

observed  that  a  multitude  of  persons,  who  before 
had  been  looking  on,  in  silent  observance  of  what  was 
passing,  advanced  to  salute  him,  and,  falling  behind 
him,  followed  to  the  court-house.  On  reaching  the 
door,  they  found  it  effectually  blocked  up  by  half  a 
dozen  soldiers,  who  stood  in  and  about,  as  if  by 
accident  and  inadvertence.  But  the  unaccommodat 
ing  stiffness  with  which  each  maintained  his  posi 
tion,  left  no  doubt  that  they  were  there  by  design. 
They  were  silent,  but  their  brutish  countenances 
spoke  their  purpose  and  feelings.  Mr.  Trevor  might 
have  endeavored  in  vain  to  force  his  passage,  had 
.  not  the  weight  of  the  crowd  behind  pressed  him 
through  the  door.  In  this  process  he  was  exposed 
to  some  suffering,  but  made  no  complaint.  The 
effect  appeared  only  in  the  flush  of  his  check,  and 
the  twitching  of  his  features.  The  blood  of  Douglas 
began  to  boil,  and,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  the 
uniform  he  had  so  long  worn  was  hateful  in  his 
sight. 

On  entering  the  house,  they  were  nearly  deafened 
with  the  din.  It  proceeded  from  quite  a  small 
number,  but  they  made  amends  for  their  deficiency 
in  this  respect,  by  clamorously  shouting  their  hurras 
for  the  President,  and  his  favored  candidate.  Be 
sides  the  soldiery,  there  were  present  the  sheriff, 
who  conducted  the  election,  and  some  twenty  or 
thirty  of  the  lowest  rabble.  On  the  bench  were  two 
candidates.  The  countenance  of  one  of  those  was 
flushed  with  insolent  triumph.  The  other  looked 


The  Partisan  Leader.  177 

pale  and  agitated.  lie  was  placed  between  his 
competitor  and  a  subaltern  officer  of  the  United 
States  army.  He  seemed  to  have  been  saying  some 
thing,  and  at  the  moment  when  Mr.  Trevor  and  his 
party  entered,  was  about  to  withdraw. 

Meeting  him  at  the  foot  of  the  stair  leading  dowi? 
from  the  bench,  that  gentleman  asked  him  the 
meaning  of  what  he  saw;  to  which  he  answered 
that  he  had  been  compelled  to  withdraw.  The 
meeting  of  these  two  gentlemen  had  attracted 
attention,  and  curiosity  to  hear  what  might  pass 
between  them,  for  a  moment  stilled  the  many- 
tongued  clamor.  Mr.  Trevor  took  advantage  of  the 
temporary  silence,  and  said  aloud :  "You  have  been 
compelled  to  withdraw.  Speak  out  distinctly,  then, 
and  say  that  you  are  no  longer  a  candidate." 

"Fellow-citizens,"  responded  the  other,  in  the 
loudest  tones  his  tremor  enabled  him  to  command, 
"  I  am  no  longer  a  candidate." 

"  AND  I  AM  A  CANDIDATE,"  cried  Mr.  Trevor  in 
a  voice  which  rang  through  the  house.  "  I  am  a 
candidate  on  behalf  of  VIRGINIA,  her  RIGHTS,  and 
her  SOVEREIGNTY." 

The  shout  from  behind  the  bar,  at  this  annuncia 
tion,  somewhat  daunted  the  blue  coats,  and  Mr. 
Trevor  was  lifted  to  the  bench  on  the  shoulders  of 
his  friends ;  when  the  officer  was  heard  to  cry  out, 
"  Close  the  polls." 

"  Place  me  near  that  officer,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  in 
a  quiet  tone.  The  sheriff,  a  worthy  but  timid  man, 

y-X- 


178  The  Partisan  Leader. 

looked  at  him  imploringly.  He  was  set  down  by 
the  side  of  the  officer,  and,  leaning  on  the  shoulder 
of  Douglas,  thus  addressed  him — 

"  I  shall  say  nothing,  sir,"  said  he,  "  to  the  sherifl 
about  his  duty.  He  is  the  judge  of  that,  and  he 
knows  that,  without  my  consent,  he  has  no  right  to 
close  the  polls  before  sunset.  Unless  compelled  by 
force,  he  will  not  do  it.  He  shall  not  be  compelled 
by  force ;  and,  if  force  is  used,  I  shall  know  whence 
it  comes.  Now  mark  me,  sir;  I  am  determined 
that  this  election  shall  go  on,  and  that  peaceably, 
[f  force  is  used,  it  must  be  used  first  on  me.  Now, 
sir,  my  friends  are  numerous  and  brave,  and  well 
iriued,  and  I  warn  you  that  my  fall  will  be  the 
uignal  of  your  doom.  Not  one  of  your  bayoneted 
<M-ew  would  leave  this  house  alive.  As  to  you,  sir, 
[  keep  my  eye  upon  you.  You  stir  not  from  my 
aide,  till  the  polls  are  closed.  I  hold  you  as  a  hos 
tage  for  the  safety  of  the  sheriif.  If  an  attack  is 
made  on  him,  I  shall  know  you  for  the  instigator. 
And,  more  than  that,  sir,  I  know  he  is  disposed  to 
do  his  duty,  and  will  not  think  of  closing  the  polls 
prematurely.  A  menace  addressed  to  him  may 
escape  my  ear.  If  he  offers  to  do  it,  if  he  does  but 
open  his  mouth  to  declare  that  the  polls  are  closed, 
I  blow  your  brains  out  on  the  spot." 

Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he,  at  the  same 
moment,  showed  a  pistol,  the  finish  of  which  gave 
assurance  that  it  would  not  miss  fire.  The  officer 
started  back  in  evident  alarm,  and  made  a  move- 


The   Partisan  Leader. 


179 


ment  to  withdraw ;  hut  he  found  himself  hedged  in 
by  brawny  countrymen,  who   closed  around   him, 
while  every  hand  was  seen  to  gripe  the  handle  01 
some  concealed  weapon. 

"  Be  patient,  sir/'  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  you  had  no 
"business  here  ;  but,  being  here,  you  shall  remain. 
No  harm  shall  be  done  you.  I  will  ensure  you 
against  every  thing  but  the  consequences  of  your 
own  violence.  Offer  none.  For  if  you  do  but  lift 
your  hand,  or  touch  your  weapons,  or  utter  one  word 
to  your  myrmidons,  you  die." 

These  words  were  uttered  in  a  tone  in  which, 
though  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  all,  there  was  as 
much  of  mildness  as  of  firmness.  Indeed  his  last 
fearful  expression  was  actually  spoken  as  in  kindness. 
The  officer  seemed  to  take  it  so,  and  quietly  seated 
himself. 

Not  so  the  rival  candidate.  He  rose,  with  a  great 
parade  of  indignation,  saying :  "  Let  me  pass,  at 
least.  This  is  no  place  for  me." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  leave  us,  sir?"  said  Mr.  Trevor, 
with  great  courtesy. 

"  I  do,"  said  the  other.  "  To  what  purpose  should 
I  remain  ?" 

"  Do  you  then  decline  ?  Are  you  no  longer  a 
candidate  ?" 

"  I  am  ;  but  I  will  not  remain  here  beset  by  armed 
violence." 

"  Will  you  leave  one  to  represent  you  ?" 

"  No  ;  I  leave  you  to  work  your  will.     I  have  no 


180  The  Partisan  Leader. 

farther  part  in  the  matter.  I  shall  do  nothing,  and 
consent  to  nothing.  When  the  law  closes  the  poll, 
it  will  be  closed." 

Saying  this,  he  withdrew,  and  Mr.  Trevor  observed 
that,  as  he  went  out,  he  spoke  aside  to  the  sergeant 
of  the  company,  who  followed  him  from  the  house. 
Soon  after,  the  men,  one  by  one,  dropped  off,  and  all 
at  length  disappeared. 

The  election  now  went  on  peaceably,  and  nearly 
every  vote  was  cast  for  Mr.  Trevor.  But  it  did  not 
escape  his  observation  that  there  were  persons  pre 
sent  whom  he  knew  to  be  hostile  to  him,  and  devoted 
to  the  rulers  at  Washington,  who  yet  did  not  vote. 
He  saw  the  motive  of  this  conduct,  but  determined 
to  make  it  manifest  to  others  as  well  as  himself,  and 
to  expose  the  disingenuous  and  unmanly  artifice 
which  he  saw  his  enemies  were  using  against  him. 
Catching  the  eye  of  a  well  dressed  man  he  said, 
"  You  have  not  voted,  I  think,  Mr.  A ?" 

"  I  have  not,"  was  the  answer,  "  and  I  don't  mean 
to  vote." 

"  I  beg  that  you  will,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "  I 
know  you  to  be  my  enemy,  personal  as  well  as  poli 
tical  ;  but  I  sincerely  wish  the  name  of  every  voter 
in  the  county  to  appear  on  the  poll  book,  though 
my  defeat  should  be  the  consequence." 

"  It  may  be  so,  sir,"  replied  the  other ;  "  but  I 
shall  not  vote  at  an  election,  controlled  by  force,  and 
where  those  commissioned  by  the  Government  to  keep 
order,  are  either  driven  oft'  or  detained  in  durance." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  18) 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Trevor. 
"  Am  I  to  infer  that  the  presence  of  the  military  here 
is  under  the  avowed  orders  of  their  master  ?" 

"  I  dare  say,"  replied  the  other,  "  that  Lieutenant 
Johnson  will  show  you  his  orders,  if  you  will  conde 
scend  to  look  at  them." 

"  I  will  do  so,  with  great  pleasure,"  said  Mr.  Tre 
vor,  "  and  promise  myself  great  edification  from  the 
perusal." 

"  I  will  read  them,  sir,"  said  tke  officer,  taking  a 
paper  from  his  pocket,  which  he  read  accordingly  in 
the  following  words : 

"  As  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  evil  disposed 
persons  design  to  overawe  or  disturb  the  election  of 

members  of  the  Legislature  from  the  county  of , 

Lieutenant  Johnson  will  attend  at  the  day  and  place 
of  election  with  the  troops  under  his  command,  for 
the  purpose  of  preserving  order.  Should  his  autho 
rity  be  opposed,  he  is,  if  permitted  to  do  so,  to  make 
known  that  he  acts  by  the  command  of  the  Presi 
dent,  to  the  end  that  all  who  may  be  disposed  to 
resist  him,  may  be  duly  warned  that  in  so  doing 
they  resist  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  and 
take  heed  lest  they  incur  the  penalties  of  the  law." 

"  Why,  this  is  well,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "And  it 
is  to  give  color  and  countenance  to  a  charge  of  resist 
ance  to  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  that  you, 
Mr.  A ,  refuse  to  vote." 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  A ;  «  it  is  because  I  nevei 

will  vote  at  an  election  controlled  by  force." 


1 82  The    Partisan  Leader. 

«  Be  it  so,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "  I  perceive  your 
drift.  Go,  then,  and  tell  your  master  that  the  means 
used  to  vindicate  the  freedom  of  election  were  used 
to  control  it.  Go,  sir,  %and  show  that  you  are  as 
much  an  enemy  to  truth  and  honor  as  to  me." 

To  this  A made  no  reply,  and  soon  after  with 
drew.  Indeed,  hardly  any  person  remained  but  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Trevor,  and  it  was  obvious  that  the 
result  of  the  election  was  not  to  be  changed  by  any 
votes  which  could  be  given.  The  necessity  of  keep 
ing  open  the  poll  till  sunset  was,  nevertheless,  impe 
rious.  But  the  scene  became  dull  and  irksome.- 
Douglas,  therefore,  proposed  that  his  uncle  should 
return  home. 

"  By  no  means,"  said  he.  "  You  don't  understand 
this  game.  Should  we  disband,  the  sheriff  would  be 
required,  at  the  peril  of  his  life,  to  make  a  false  re 
turn.  But  he  shall  have  his  will.  Mr.  Sheriff,  shall 
I  withdraw  also  ?" 

"  No  !  no  !  For  God's  sake,  stay,  sir !"  exclaimed 
the  alarmed  sheriff;  "and  either  see  me  home,  or 
take  me  home  with  you.  I  have  not  the  influence 
which  makes  you  safe  in  the  midst  of  enemies,  and 
am  not  ashamed  to  say  that  I  fear  my  life." 

"  I  will  protect  you,  then,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Trevor, 
"  until  you  have  made  out  your  return,  and  given 
your  certificate.  When  these  are  done,  I  hope  you 
will  be  safe." 

The  scene  again  subsided  into  its  former  d  ill  ness 
The  enemy  had  disappeared,  with  the  exception  oi 


The  Partisan  Leader  188 

the  captive  officer,  who  looked  on  ruefully,  while 
an  occasional  vote  was  given  at  long  intervals.  At 
length,  Mr.  Trevor  observed  that  some  of  the  voters 
were  about  to  withdraw.  He  therefore  rose,  and 
begged  them  to  remain. 

u  This  business  is  not  over,"  said  he.  "  It  is  not 
for  nothing  that  the  polls  are  to  be  kept  open  until 
sunset,  when  all  who  have  not  voted  have  with 
drawn.  An  attack  on  the  sheriff  or  myself  is  cer 
tainly  intended.  Perhaps  on  both.  I  beseech  you, 
therefore,  not  to  disperse,  but  to  see  us  both  safe 
to  my  house.  When  once  among  my  own  people, 
I  will  take  care  of  him  and  myself.  I  am  sorry, 
sir,"  continued  he,  addressing  the  officer,  "  that  the 
movements  of  your  friends  make  it  necessary  to 
detain  you  longer  than  I  had  intended.  You  must 
be  a  hostage  for  us  all,  until  this  day's  work  is 
over.  But  assure  yourself  of  being  treated  with 
all  courtesy  and  kindness.  Should  I  even  find  it 
necessary  to  compel  your  company  to  my  own  house, 
doubt  not  that  you  will  receive  every  attention  due 
to  an  honored  guest.  I  beg  you  to  observe  that 
I  do  not  even  disarm  you.  The  warning  you  have 
received  is  my  only  security  that  you  will  attempt 
no  violence." 

This  speech  was  heard  in  sullen  silence  by  him  to 
whom  it  was  addressed.  But  some  conversation 
with  others  ensued,  in  which  Mr.  Trevor  took  pains 
to  enlighten  the  minds  of  his  hearers  in  regard  to 
public  affairs.  The  day  wore  away  somewhat  less 


184  The  Partisan  Leader. 

wearily ;  the  sun  went  down,  and  Bernard  Trevor 
was  proclaimed  to  be  duly  elected. 

Our  party  now  took  up  the  line  of  inarch.  The 
sheriff  and  officer  were  placed  in  Mr.  Trevor's  ba 
rouche;  the  former  by  his  side — the  latter  in  front 
of  him,  by  the  side  of  the  driver.  A  numerous  com 
pany  on  horseback  surrounded  them. 

They  were  scarcely  in  motion,  before  the  drum 
was  heard,  and  the  regulars  were  seen  advancing  to 
meet  them  in  military  array.  Mr.  Trevor  imme 
diately  commanded  the  driver  to  stop,  and  draw  his 
pistol.  Then  calling  to  the  servant  on  horseback,  he 
made  him  station  himself,  pistol  in  hand,  close  to 
the  officer.  Having  made  this  arrangement,  he  ad 
dressed  him  : 

"  You  see  your  situation,  sir.  Those  fellows  would 
not  scruple  to  shoot  your  master  himself  at  my  bid 
ding  ;  and  my  orders  to  you  both,  boys,  are,  that  if 
we  are  attacked,  you  are  both  to  shoot  this  gentle 
man  upon  the  spot.  I  shall  do  the  same  thing,  sir  ; 
so  that  between  us  you  cannot  escape,  ^ow,  sir, 
stand  up  and  show  yourself  to  your  men,  and  speak 
distinctly  the  words  of  command  that  I  shall  dic 
tate." 

The  officer  did  as  he  was  directed.  The  advancing 
platoon  was  halted,  and  wheeled  backward  to  the  side 
of  the  road ;  the  arms  were  ordered,  and  the  barouche 
passed  on.  After  passing,  a  momentary  stop  was 
made,  while  the  sergeant  was  ordered  to  march  the 
men  back  to  their  quarters.  This  was  done,  and  as 


The  Partisan  Leader.  185 

soon  as  the  two  parties  were  at  safe  distance  asunder. 
Lieutenant  Johnson  was  released,  and  courteously  dis 
missed.  Mr.  Trevor  and  his  friends  reached  home  in 
safety,  and  without  interruption,  and  thus  ended  the 
election  day. 


)86  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTEK    XXI. 

I  tell  you,  my  lord  fool,  that  out  of  this  nettle,  Danger,  we  pluck 
this  flower,  Safet}*-. 

SHAKSPEARE. 

THE  domestic  party  that  we  left  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Trevor  were  variously  affected  by  the  history  of 
the  occurrences  detailed  in  the  last  chapter.  Arthur 
had  been  slightly  indisposed,  and  his  uncle  had  made 
that  a  pretext  for  keeping  him  out  of  harm's  way. 
But  when  he  heard  what  had  passed,  his  spirit  was 
roused,  and  he  felt  as  a  soldier  who  hears  the  history 
of  some  well-fought  battle  where  he  was  not  permit 
ted  to  be  present.  To  Virginia  the  whole  story  was 
a  subject  of  wonderment  and  alarm.  The  idea  that 
her  dear  uncle,  and  her  dearer  brother,  had  been  en 
gaged  in  an  affair  where  u  dirk  and  pistol"  was  the 
word,  threw  her  into  a  flutter  of  trepidation.  She 
could  not  refrain  from  asking  the  former  whether  he 
would  have  shot  the  poor  man  sure  enough ;  and 
received  his  affirmative  answer  with  a  shudder.  The 
feelings  of  Lucia  did  not  much  differ  from  hers,  ex 
cept  in  intensity.  She  had  heard  too  much  to  be 
wholly  unprepared  for  such  things,  and  her  mind 


The  Partisan  Leader.  187 

was  too  much  accustomed  to  take  its  tone  from  those 
of  her  mother  and  sister. 

On  these  ladies  the  impression  made  by  the  events 
of  the  day  was  wholly  different.  If  the  countenance 
of  Mrs.  Trevor  was  more  thoughtful  than  before,  it 
only  spoke  of  higher  thoughts.  Her  eye  was  brighter, 
her  carriage  more  erect,  her  step  more  free,  while  her 
smile  had  less,  perhaps,  of  quiet  satisfaction,  but 
more  of  hope.  The  flutter  of  youthful  feelings,  and 
the  sweeter  and  more  tender  thoughts  proper  to  one 
newly  betrothed,  made  the  chief  difference  between 
Delia  and  her  mother.  But  while  Douglas  saw  in 
the  latter  all  the  evidence  of  those  high  qualities 
which  fit  a  woman  to  be  not  merely  the  consolation 
and  joy  of  her  husband,  but  his  sage  adviser  and 
useful  friend,  he  saw  enough  in  Delia  to  show  that 
she,  in  due  time,  would  be  to  him  all  that  her  mother 
was  to  his  uncle. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  Mr.  B arrived,  and  his 

appearance  was  a  signal  of  joy  to  the  whole  family. 
Douglas  now,  for  the  first  time,  discovered  that  he 
stood  in  some  interesting,  though  undefined  relation 
to  them,  and  especially  to  his  aunt.  That  there  was 
no  connexion  of  blood  or  marriage  he  knew,  yet  the 
feelings  of  the  parties  towards  each  other  were  mu 
tually  filial  and  paternal.  The  imposing  dignity  of 
Mrs.  Trevor's  manner  seemed  to  be  surrendered  in 
his  presence.  Her  maiden  name  of  Margaret,  which 
no  other  lip  but  that  of  her  husband  would  have  ven« 
tured  to  profane,  was  that  by  which  alone  he  ever 


1 88  The  Partisan  Leader. 

accosted  her,  and  that  generally  accompanied  with 
some  endearing  epithet.  The  girls  would  sit  upon 
his  knee,  and  play  familiarly  and  affectionately  with 
his  grey  locks ;  while  the  servants,  in  the  proud 
humility  of  their  attention  to  his  wants  and  wishes, 
seemed  hardly  to  distinguish  between  him  and  their 
beloved  and  honored  master.  It  was  not  to  be  be 
lieved  that  the  family  kept  any  secrets  from  him,  so 
that  Douglas  could  not  doubt  that  he  was  privy  to 
his  little  affair  of  the  heart.  And  so  he  was  ;  and  his 
manner  toward  the  young  man  was,  from  the  first, 
that  of  a  near  kinsman,  hardly  differing  in  any  thing 
from  that  of  his  uncle.  As  far  as  coincidence  of  sen 
timent  and  similarity  of  character  could  explain  this 
close  intimacy,  it  stood  explained.  Between  him 
and  Mr.  Trevor  there  were  many  points  of  strong 
similitude.  But  to  Mrs.  Trevor  the  resemblance  was 
more  striking.  Age  and  sex  seemed  to  make  the 
only  difference  between  them. 

But,  in  addition  to  this  domestic  relation,  which 
embraced  every  member  of  the  household  down  to 
the  scullion  and  shoe-black,  there  was  obviously  some 
understanding  between  the  gentlemen  in  regard  to 
matters  of  much  higher  concernment.  Indeed,  no 
pains  were  taken  to  conceal  this  fact,  though,  during 
Mr.  B 's  former  visit,  Douglas  had  not  been  admit 
ted  to  any  of  their  consultations  but  that  which  con 
cerned  himself. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  two  were  closeted,  in 
the  little  study,  in  close  conclave ;  and  soon  after,  a 


The  Partisan  Leader.  189 

message  was  delivered  to  Douglas  requesting  his 
presence. 

"  I  am  the  bearer  of  important  intelligence,"  said 

B .holding  out  his  hand  to  the  youth  as  he  entered ; 

"and  as  it  particularly  concerns  you,  as  well  as  your 
uncle,  you  must  perforce  consent  to  become  privy 
to  our  council." 

"  I  am  not  sorry  to  hear  it,"  replied  Douglas.  "  If 
any  thing  was  wanting  to  banish  all  reserve  between 
us,  I  would  be  content  to  suffer  some  loss  to  effect 
that  object." 

"  I  believe  you,"  said  B ,  "  and  therefore  expect 

you  will  the  less  regret  an  unpleasant  circumstance, 
which,  without  your  act  or  consent,  and  even  in  spite 
of  you,  binds  you  in  the  same  bundle  with  us." 

"  That  was  already  done,"  said  Douglas.  "  What 
new  tie  can  there  be  ?" 

"  One  of  the  strongest.  The  union  of  your  name 
with  your  uncle's  in  a  warrant  for  high  treason  from 
the  court  of  high  commission  at  Washington." 

"You  speak  riddles,"  said  Douglas.  "The  only 
instance  in  which  I  ever  incurred  the  displeasure  of 
the  President,  was  one  which  no  human  ingenuity 
could  torture  into  treason ;  and  certainly  my  uncle 
had  no  hand  in  that." 

"  But,  having  then  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the 
Government,  what  if  you  -should  since  have  been 
concerned  in  any  matter  which  might  be  called 
treason  ?" 

"  But  there  has  been  no  such  matter." 


1 90  The    Partisan  Leader. 

"My  dear  boy,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "the  question 
is  not  of  what  we  have  done.  Had  we  actually  done 
any  thing  culpable,  there  would  be  no  occasion  for 
this  warrant  from  Washington.  Our  own  courts, 
and  a  jury  of  peers,  may  be  trusted  to  try  the  guilty. 
But  when  men  are  to  be  tried  for  what  they  have  not 
done,  then  resort  must  be  had  to  this  new  court  of 
high  commission  at  Washington,  and  to  a  jury  of 
office-holders." 

"But  where,"  asked  Douglas,  "is  the  warrant  of 
which  you  speak  ?" 

"  That  I  cannot  exactly  say,"  said  B .     "  I  am 

not  even  sure  that  it  is  yet  in  existence.  But  that  it 
is,  or  will  be,  is  certain.  I  need  not  explain  to  you 
my  means  of  knowledge.  Your  uncle  is  acquainted 
with  them,  and  knows  that  what  I  tell  you  is  certain. 
The  transactions  of  the  election  day  will  be  made  the 
subject  of  a  capital  charge,  and  it  is  intended  to  con 
vey  you  both  to  Washington  to  answer  it  there.  I 
am  come  to  advise  you  both  of  this,  that  you  may 
determine  what  course  to  pursue." 

"  My  course  is  plain,"  said  Douglas.  "  To  meet 
the  charge,  and  refute  it." 

"  Are  you  aware,"  said  B ,  "  who  is  the  Judge  of 

this  court  of  high  commission?" 

"I  think  I  have  somehow  understood  that  it  is 
Judge  Baker." 

"The  father  of  your  friend,  Philip  Baker,  the 
younger.  Now  are  you  aware  that,  but  a  few  days 
before  the  court  was  constituted,  he  and  other  judges 


The  Partisan  Leader.  191 

were  consulted,  and  declared  it  to  be  so  grossly  un 
constitutional  that  no  judge  would  preside  in  it?" 

"  I  see  that  so  it  should  be  declared,  but  did  not 
know  that  such  opinion  had  been  given." 

"  Yet  so  it  was.  ISTow  where,  do  you  think,  the 
considerations  were  found  by  which  the  honorable 
gentleman's  honorable  scruples  were  overcome  ?  Of 
course,  you  cannot  conjecture.  You  would  find  it, 
all  too  late,  if  you,  by  placing  yourself  in  his  power, 
afforded  him  an  opportunity  of  gratifying  the  malice 
of  his  son,  without  exposing  his  cowardice  and 
meanness.  I  see  you  doubt  my  means  of  knowledge. 
Your  uncle  told  me  nothing  of  young  Whiting's 
communication  to  the  President.  Yet  I  knew  of  it. 
I  know,"  continued  B ,  not  regarding  the  amaze 
ment  of  Douglas,  "  that,  but  for  that  letter,  you 
would  not  have  been  permitted  to  resign ;  and  that 
Judge  Baker's  scruples  about  presiding  in  this  new 
court  were  overcome  by  hushing  up  the  inquiry, 
which  would  have  dishonored  his  son,  and  substitut 
ing  a  proceeding  which  should  number  you  among 
the  victims  of  his  power,  without  implicating  the 
name  of  his  son.  As  to  my  means  of  knowledge, 
when  knaves  can  get  honest  men  to  be  the  instru 
ments  of  their  villany,  they  may  expect  not  to  be 
betrayed.  Until  then,  they  must  bear  the  fate  of  all 
'who  work  with  sharp  tools." 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  of 
the  fate  prepared  for  us,  should  we  fall  into  the  hands 
of  our  enemies.  To  be  summoned  to  trial  before  a 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


court  confuted  for  the  sole  purpose  of  entertaining 
prosecutions  which  cannot  be  sustained  elsewhere,  is 
to  be  notified  of  a  sentence  already  passed.  To  obey 
such  a  summons,  is  to  give  the  neck  to  the  halter. 
The  question  is,  then,  what  is  to  be  done  to  evade  it. 
Our  friend  B  -  proposes  that  your  brother  and  sister 
be  sent  home,  and  that  you  and  I,  and  my  family, 
withdraw  to  Carolina.-  How  say  you  ?" 

"  I  have  the  same  difficulty  that  I  had,  the  other 
day,  about  tendering  my  resignation.  But,  in  this 
instance,  it  appears  with  more  force.  To  fly  from 
justice  is  always  taken  as  evidence  of  conscious 
guilt." 

"About  that,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "I  feel  small 
concern  on  my  own  account,  as  I  certainly  mean  to 
commit  what  all  who  deny  the  sovereignty  of  Virginia 
will  call  high  treason." 

"Then  why  not  take  up  arms  at  once?  I  have 
much  misunderstood  appearances,  since  I  have  been 
here,  if  the  means,  not  of  evading,  but  resisting  this 
attack,  are  not  already  organized." 

"The  time  is  not  yet  ripe  for  action,"  said  Mr. 
Trevor.  "  Had  it  been  so,  I  should  not  have  waited 
until  my  own  head  was  in  jeopardy,  before  striking 
the  blow.  Nor  should  my  own  personal  danger 
precipitate  it." 

"  But  what  fitter  time  can  there  be  to  call  the  peo 
ple  to  arms,  than  at  this  moment,  when  their  minds 
are  heated  by  the  late  violent  invasion  of  the  elective 
franchise?  What  more  exciting  spectacle  could  be 


The  Partisan  Leader.  193 

presented  than  the  sight  of  a  citizen  seized  as  a  traitor, 
and  dragged  away  in  chains,  to  answer,  before  an  uncon 
stitutional  tribunal,  for  maintaining  this  franchise  ?" 

"  Are  you  then  prepared  to  resist,  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet,  this  unconstitutional  warrant,  as  a  thing 
void  and  of  no  authority  ?" 

"  I  am"  replied  Douglas,  with  energy.  "  And  I 
will  say  more,"  said  he,  speaking  with  solemn  earnest 
ness.  "  I  have  seen  enough  to  make  my  duty  plain  ; 
and  I  am  prepared  to  go  as  far  as  you,  yourself,  in 
asserting  and  maintaining  the  sovereignty  of  Virginia 
at  every  hazard." 

"  That  being  the  case,"  said  B ,  "  as  you  will  not 

disagree  about  the  end,  you  must  not  differ  about  the 
means,  nor  lose  time  discussing  them.  W$  are  not 
thinking  of  this  subject  for  the  first  time.  We 
see  the  whole  ground,  and  act  under  the  influence  of 
considerations  which  we  have  no  time  to  detail.  Are 
you  then,  my  young  friend,  prepared  to  give  us  so 
much  of  your  confidence  as  this  ?  We  say  to  you, 
'Go  with  us  where  we  go,  and  trust  our  assurance 
that  when  we  have  leisure  to  explain  all,  you  will 
find  our  plan  the  best.'  Are  you  content?  Are  you 
now  ready  to  carry  into  execution  our  matured  plan, 
so  far  as  it  has  been  disclosed  to  you,  trusting  all  the 
details  to  us?  Remember — if  you  say  yes  to  this, 
we  stop  no  more  to  deliberate  or  explain  until  we  are 
in  a  place  of  safety.  Until  then,  you  place  yourself 
under  orders ;  and  you  have  learned  how  to  obey. 
How  say  you ?  Are  you  content?" 

9 


194  The  Partisan  Leader. 

Douglas  paused,  reflected  a  minute  or  two,  and 

then,  extending  a  hand  to  Mr.  B ,  and  one  to  his 

uncle,  said  earnestly  :  "  I  am ;  command,  and  I  will 
obey.  But  which  of  you  am  I  to  obey  ?" 

"  Mr.  B ,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  under  whose  com 
mand  I  now  place  myself." 

"Then  to  business,"  said  B .  "Warn  your 

brother,  at  once,  of  the  necessity  of  returning  home 
with  your  sister,  and  see  that  he  makes  the  needful 
preparations  for  his  departure  at  an  early  hour  to 
morrow.  The  boy's  heart  will  have  some  hankerings 
that  will  make  it  necessary  for  you  to  look  after  him, 
and  urge  him  to  exertion.  You,  Trevor,  must  ex 
pedite  the  arrangements  for  the  removal  of  your 
family.  Pass  the  word  to  Margaret  and  Delia.  You 
may  trust  much  to  their  efficiency.  I  am  afraid  we 
cannot  expect  much  more  from  my  poor  little  Lucia, 
just  now,  than  from  Arthur.  Now,  Trevor,  give  me 
the  keys  of  your  arm-room ;  let  Douglas  join  me 
there,  as  soon  as  he  has  set  Arthur  to  work,  and,  in 
the  meantime,  send  Jack  to  me  there.  I  will  play 
quartermaster,  while  you  make  arrangements  for  the 
muster  of  the  black  watch." 

"The  black  watch!"  said  Douglas,  with  an  inquir 
ing  look. 

"  Aye,"  said  B .  "  The  sidier  dhu — the  trusty 

body-guard  of  a  Virginia  gentleman.  His  own  faith 
ful  slaves." 

"  The  slaves !"  said  Douglas.  "  What  use  shall  we 
have  for  them  ?" 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


»95 


"  I  have  no  time  to  answer  now,"  said  B .  "  Ask 

me  that  when  you  come  to  me  in  the  arm-room.  At 
present  you  must  attend  to  Arthur.  We  have  no 
time  to  lose." 

Douglas  now  remembered  his  enlistment,  and  betook 
himself,  with  the  prompt  alacrity  of  an  old  soldier, 
to  the  fulfilment  of  his  orders 


END   OF  VOL.  I. 


THE 


PARTISAN  LEADER; 


A  TALE  OF  THE  FUTURE. 


BY 

EDWARD    WILLIAM    SIDNEY. 


"SIC   SIMPER   TYKANNIS." 

The  Motto  of  Virginia. 
"PASS  FTTI." Virgil. 


IN    TWO    VOLUMES. 


VOL.  II. 


PRINTED 

FOR  THE  PUBLISHERS,   BY  JAMES  CAXTON. 
1856. 


Copy-right  secured  according  to  law. 


THE 


PARTISAN    LEADER. 


CHAPTEE    XXII. 

"  I  have  nursed  him  at  this  withered  breast,"  said  the  old  woman, 
folding  her  hands  on  her  bosom  as  if  pressing  an  infant  to  it;  "and 
man  can  never  ken  what  woman  feels  for  the  bairn  that  she  has  first 
held  to  her  bosom."  SCOTT. 

POOTC  AKTHUE  !     B had  predicted  too  truly 

that  his  heart  would  have  some  hankerings  at  the 
thought  of  leaving  the  house  where  he  had,  of  late, 
spent  so  many  pleasant  hours.  It  is  so  long  that  I 
have  said  nothing  about  him,  that  the  reader  may 
think  him  forgotten,  or  may,  himself,  have  forgotten 
that  there  was  such  a  person.  He  had,  in  truth,  no  part 
in  the  transactions  of  which  we  have  been  speaking. 
He  was  at  that  time  of  life  when  the  mind,  chame 
leon-like,  takes  its  hue  from  surrounding  objects. 
He  was  too  young  to  be  advised  with,  or  trusted  with 
important  secrets.  I  have  already  mentioned  that, 
on  the  day  of  the  election,  he  had  been  detained  at 
home  by  indisposition.  But  he  had  heard  of  the  oc- 

1* 


200  The  Partisan  Leader. 

currences  of  that  day ;  and  he  was,  moreover,  uncon 
sciously  exposed  to  influences  from  every  member  of 
the  family,  all  tending  to  the  same  point.  Least  ap 
parent,  but  not  least  efficacious,  was  that  of  his  cousin 
Lucia.  They  were  of  that  age  when  hearts,  soft  and 
warm,  grow  together  by  mere  contact.  With  thought 
of  love,  but  without  thinking  of  it,  they  had  become 
deeply  enamored  of  each  other.  The  thing  came 
about  so  simply  and  so  naturally,  that  the  result  alone 
needs  to  be  told. 

They  were  now  to  part,  and  the  thought  of  parting 
first  made  them  both  feel  that  something  was  the 
matter.  They  talked  of  the  separation,  and  Lucia 
shed  some  tears.  Arthur  kissed  them  off,  and  then 
she  smiled  ;  and  then  she  wept  again  ;  and  then  they 
agreed  never  to  forgot  each  other ;  and  so  on,  till  the 
secret  was  out,  and  their  innocent  hearts  were  fondly 
plighted. 

Such  things  do  not  pass  unmarked  by  older  eyes. 
The  maternal  instinct  of  Mrs.  Trevor,  and  the  sagacity 
of  her  husband,  had  detected  that  of  which  the  par 
ties  themselves  were  unconscious.  And  now,  in  the 
few  hours  that  they  were  to  remain  together,  occupied 
as  the  old  people  were  with  important  engagements, 
neither  the  glowing  cheek,  the  swimming  eye,  and 
the  abstracted  look  of  Lucia,  nor  the  rapt  enthu 
siasm  of  Arthur's  countenance,  escaped  observation. 
But  as  no  disclosure  was  made  of  what  had  passed, 
their  fancied  privacy  was  not  invaded  by  question  or 
insinuation.  They  were  too  young  to  marry,  and  secret 


The  Partisan  Leader.  201 

love  is  so  sweet !  "Why  not  let  the  innocent  crea 
tures  enjoy  the  idea  that  their  attachment  was  not 
suspected?  Their  friends  smiled  indeed,  but  ten 
derly,  not  significantly.  To  them,  they  did  hut 
seem  kinder  than  ever;  and  that,  at  a  moment  when 
they  were  most  sensible  to  kindness,  and  most  ready 
to  reciprocate  it.  In  this  heart-searching  sympathy, 
Arthur  found  himself  indissolubly  united-  to  the 
destiny,  the  opinions,  and  the  feelings,  whatever 
these  might  be,  of  those  who  so  loved  his  dear 
Lucia. 

But  I  am  not  writing  a  love-tale.  I  am  but  inte 
rested  that  the  reader  should  understand  by  what 
process  two  principal  actors  in  the  scenes  of  which 
I  am  about  to  speak,  were  diverted  from  a  zealous 
devotion  to  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  in 
which  they  had  been  educated,  to  a  devotion  yet 
more  enthusiastic  in  the  cause  of  Virginia.  Enough 
of  them  has  been  seen  to  show  that  I  must  be 
anxious  to  vindicate  them  from  any  charge  of  incon 
sistency.  I  trust  the  reader  enters  into  this  feeling, 
and  deems  them  worthy  of  it.  If  he  requires  any 
farther  account  of  the  causes  which  wrought  so  great 
a  change,  Iliave  none  to  give.  It  was  through  their 
eyes  and  hearts  that  conviction  entered.  Outrage 
to  the  laws ;  outrage  to  the  freedom  of  election  ; 
outrage  to  one  respected  and  beloved ;  left  nothing 
for  reason  to  do.  Doubtless  much  had  been  said  to 

them  by  their  uncle  and  Mr.  B ,  in  explanation 

of  the   great   principles   of  the   American   Union, 


202  The  Partisan  Leader. 

which    had    been    trampled    on    by   the    Federal, 
Government.     But  I  am  not  aware  that  any  ideas' 
were  presented  to  their  minds  on  this  subject,  with 
which  the  reading  public  had  not  been  familiar  for 
twenty  years  before,  and  I  shall  not  repeat  them 
here.      Let  us  rather   accompany  Douglas  to  Mr. 
Trevor's  magazine  of  arms.    It  was  in  a  garret  room, 

where  he  found  Mr.  B busy  in  the  examination 

of  arms,  and  portioning  out  ammunition,  with  the 
aid  of  Jack. 

"  You  come  in  good  time,"  said  B .     "  Here  is 

work  that  you  understand.  Come  help  me  examine 
these  arms,  and  see  that  they  are  all  clean,  dry,  and 
well  flinted." 

u  What  do  you  propose  to  do  with  them?"  asked 
Dotiglas,  lending  a  hand  to  the  work. 

"  We  propose,"  said  B ,  "  to  arm  the  negroes  in 

defence  of  their  master,  in  case  of  need." 

"  But  what  need  can  there  be,  if  we  set  out  for 
Carolina  in  the  morning  ?" 

"They   may  be  wanted   before   morning,"   said 

B ,  coolly.    "  Lieutenant  Johnson  left  the  county 

on  the  night  of  the  election,  and  travelled  express  to 
Washington.  His  intelligence  was  anticipated,  and, 
no  doubt,  the  warrants  were  all  ready  before  he  got 
there.  I  daresay  they  had  a  ready-made  affidavit 
for  him  to  swear  to.  This  plot  was  got  up  so  sud 
denly,  that  I  was  hardly  advised  of  it  in  time.  But 
I  hope  it  is  not  too  late.  I  have  no  mind  to  fire  the 
train  too  soon.  I  would  rather  you  should  get  off 


The  Partisan  Leader.  203 

peaceably,  but,  if  we  do  come  to  blows,  I  shall  take 
care  that  the  blue-coats  have  the  worst  of  it." 

"  You  move  in  this  business,"  said  Douglas,  "  like 
a  man  not  unused  to  danger.  I  presume  you  have 
taken  the  precaution  to  warn  in  the  hardy  and  reso 
lute  neighbors,  whom  I  saw  stand  by  my  uncle  the 
other  day." 

"  By  no  means,"  answered  B.  "  Were  we  so 
minded,  we  could  command  a  force  that  would  de 
molish  any  that  will  be  sent  against  us.  But  it  is 
not  desirable  to  show  the  strength  of  our  hand.  I 
should  be  glad,  if  possible,  that  the  temper  of  the 
people  were  unsuspected.  At  the  same  time,  there 
is  an  exhibition  to  be  made,  which  will  have  a  good 
effect  on  friend  and  foe — I  mean  an  exhibition  of 
the  staunch  loyalty  and  heart- felt  devotion  of  the 
slave  to  his  master.  "We  must  show  that  that  which 
our  enemies,  and  some  even  of  ourselves,  consider  as 
our  weakness,  is,  in  truth,  our  strength." 

"  Is  such  your  own  clear  opinion  ?  "  asked  Doug 
las.  "  I  have  lived  so  long  in  the  North,  that  I  have 
imbibed  too  many  of  the  ideas  that  prevail  there. 
But,  on  this  point,  it  appears  to  me  that  they  must 
be  right." 

"  You  have  not  lived  there  long  enough,"  said 
B ,  "  to  forget  your  earliest  and  strongest  attach 
ments.  You  had  a  black  nurse,  I  presume.  Do  you 
love  her  ?" 

"  My  mammy  !  "  exclaimed  Douglas  ;  "  to  be  sure 
I  do.  I  should  be  the  most  ungrateful  creature 


204  The  Partisan  Leader. 

on  earth,  if  I  did  not  love  one  who  loves  me  like  a 
mother." 

"And  your  foster-brother?"  asked  B ;    "and 

his  brothers  and  sisters  ?    Do  not  they,  too,  love  him 
their  mother  loves  so  fondly  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  doubt  they  do,  especially  as  1  have 
always  been  kind  to  them." 

"  From  these,  then,  I  presume,  you  would  fear 
nothing.  Then  your  brothers  and  sisters.  They,  too, 
have  their  mammies  and  foster-brethren.  Among 
you,  you  must  have  a  strong  hold  on  the  hearts  of 
many  of  your  father's  slaves.  Would  they,  think 
you,  taken  as  a  body,  rise  against  your  family  ?  " 

"I  have  not  the  least  apprehension  that  they 
would,"  replied  Douglas. 

"  Yet  they,  thus  considered,  are  one  integral  part 
of  the  great  black  family,  which,  in  all  its  branches, 
is  united  by  similar  ligaments  to  the  great  white 
family.  You  have  the  benefit  of  the  parental  feeling 
of  the  old  who  nursed  your  infancy,  and  watched 
your  growth.  You  have  the  equal  friendship  of 
those  with  whom  you  ran  races,  and  played  at 
bandy,  and  wrestled  in  your  boyhood.  If  sometimes 
a  dry  blow  passed  between  you,  they  love  you  none 
the  less  for  that ;  because,  unless  you  were  differently 
trained  from  what  is  common  among  our  boys,  you 
were  taught  not  to  claim  any  privilege,  in  a  fight, 
over  those  whom  you  treated  as  equals  in  play. 
Then  you  have  the  grateful  and  admiring  affection 
of  the  little  urchin  whose  head  you  patted  when  you 


The  Partisan  Leader.  205 

came  home,  making  him  proud  by  asking  his  name, 
and  his  mammy's  name,  and  his  daddy's  name. 
These  are  the  filaments  which  the  heart  puts  out  to 
lay  hold  on  what  it  clings  to.  Great  interests,  like 
large  branches,  are  too  stiff  to  twine.  These  are  the 
fibres  from  which  the  ties  that  bind  man  to  man  are 
spun.  The  finer  the  staple,  the  stronger  the  cord. 
You  will  probably  see  its  strength  exemplified  before 
morning.  There  are  twenty  true  hearts  which  will 
shed  their  last  drop,  before  one  hair  of  your  uncle's 
head  shall  fall." 

"  You  present  the  matter  in  a  new  light,"  said 
Douglas.  "  I  wish  our  northern  brethren  could  be 
made  to  take  the  same  view  of  it." 

"  Our  northern  brethren,  as  you  call  them,"  said 
B — ,  "  never  can  take  this  view  of  it.  They  have 
not  the  qualities  which  would  enable  them  to  com 
prehend  the  negro  character.  Their  calculating 
selfishness  can  never  understand  his  disinterested 
devotion.  Their  artificial  benevolence  is  no  inter 
preter  of  the  affections  of  the  unsophisticated  heart. 
They  think  our  friend  Jack  here  to  be  even  such 
as  themselves,  and  cannot  therefore  conceive  that 
he  is  not  ready  to  cut  his  master's  throat,  if  there  is 
anything  to  be  got  by  it.  They  know  no  more 
of  the  feelings  of  our  slaves,  than  their  fathers 
could  comprehend  of  the  loyalty  of  the  gallant  cava 
liers  from  whom  we  spring;  and  for  the  same  rea 
son.  The  generous  and  self-renouncing  must  ever 
be  a  riddle  to  the  selfish.  The  only  instance  in 


2ob  The  Partisan  Leader. 

which  they  have  ever  seemed  to  understand  us, 
has  been  in  the  estimate  they  have  made  of  our 
attachment  to  a  Union,  the  benefits  of  which  have 
all  been  theirs,  the  burthens  ours.  Be  verse  the 
case,  and  they  would  have  dissolved  the  partner 
ship  thirty  years  ago.  But  they  have  presumed 
upon  the  difference  between  us,  and  heaped  oppres 
sion  on  oppression,  until  we  can  bear  no  more.  But, 
when  we  throw  off  the  yoke,  they  will  still  not 
understand  us.  They  will  impute  to  us  none  but 
selfish  motives,  and  take  no  note  of  the  scorn  and 
loathing  which  their  base  abuse  of  our  better  feel 
ings  has  awakened.  Would  they  but  forbear  so 
much  as  not  to  force  us  to  hate  and 'despise  them, 
they  might  still  use  us  as  their  hewers  of  wood  and 
drawers  of  water.  But  he  who  gives  all  where  he 
loves,  will  give  nothing  where  he  detests.  Bat  this, 
too,  is  a  riddle  for  them." 

" I  must  own,"  said  Douglas,  "that  these  ideas 
are  new  to  me,  too." 

"Not  the  ideas,  but  the  application  of  them. 
Three  months  ago,  you  were  the  devoted  soldier  of 
Martin  Yan  Buren.  Had  you  then  believed  him 
capable  of  a  conspiracy  so  base  as  that  which  has 
been  plotted  against  your  honor  and  life,  could  you 
still  have  served  him?" 

"  I  should  still  have  wished  to  serve  my  country," 
replied  Douglas  ;  "  but  I  should,  probably,  have 
doubted  whether  I  could  have  served  her  in  serving 
him." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  207 

"  And  do  you  think  you  would  view  the  matter 
differently,  had  another  been  the  intended  victim,  and 
not  yourself?  " 

"  I  trust  not.  My  personal  concern  in  the  affair,  I 
think,  has  done  no  more  than  to  emancipate  me  from 
my  thraldom.  But  the  display  of  his  character  is 
what  makes  me  detest  him ;  and  the  scenes  of  the 
election  day  have  opened  my  eyes  to  the  wrongs,  and 
the  rights,  and  the  interests  of  Virginia.  The  scales 
have  now  fallen  from  them,  and  I  am  impatient  for 
the  day  when  I  may  apply  in  her  service  the  lessons 
learned  in  the  school  of  her  oppressors." 

"  You  shall  have  your  wish,"  said  B .  "  The 

flint  .you  are  nt>w  fitting  may  yet  be  snapped  against 
the  myrmidons  of  the  usurper." 


208  The   Partisan  Leader 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Osric  .  .  .  How  is  it,  Laertes  ? 

Laertes  .  .  Why,  as  a  woodcock  to  ray  own  springe,  Osric. 

SHAKSPEARE. 

WHILE  this  conversation  was  going  on,  the  armg 
had  been  all  examined,  loaded,  and  ranged  against 
the  wall,  and  due  portions  of  powder  and  ball  allotted 
to  each  firelock.  Their  work  being  nearly  completed, 
Douglas  was  dispatched  with  some  message  to  his 
uncle.  As  he  descended  the  stairs,  he  heard,  not 
without  a  smile,  the  quick,  impatient  step  of  Arthur, 
pacing  to  and  fro  the  length  of  a  passage  leading  from 
the  front  door  through  the  building.  Arthur  was 
just  turning  at  the  end  next  to  the  door,  when  a  rap 
on  the  knocker  arrested  him.  The  door  was  instantly 
opened,  and  he  was  heard  to  ask  some  one  to  walk  in. 
It  was  night,  and  the  passage  was  dark.  Arthur  con 
ducted  the  stranger  to  the  door  of  his  uncle's  study, 
which  was  the  common  reception  room,  ushered  him 
in,  drew  back,  and  having  closed  the  door  behind 
him,  resumed  his  musing  promenade. 

Douglas  went  on,  suspecting  nothing.  He  was  not 
aware  that  the  servants  had  been  cautioned  against 
admitting  strangers;  and  poor  Arthur  was  not  au 


The   Partisan  Leader.  209  . 

fait  to  what  was  passing.  He  entered  the  room.  His 
uncle  had  risen  from  his  chair  in  the  corner  farthest 
from  the  door,  and  was  standing  behind  a  large  table, 
at  which  he  usually  wrote.  He  heard  him  say  : 
"  Please  to  be  seated,  sir,"  in  a  voice  between  com 
pliment  and  command,  and  with  a  countenance  in 
which  courtesy  and  fierceness  were  strangely  blended. 
As  the  stranger,  not  regarding  this  stern  invitation, 
continued  to  advance,  the  glare  of  the  old  man's  eyes 
became  fearful,  and  he  laid  his  hand  on  a  pistol  which 
lay  on  the  table  before  him.  "  Stand  back,  sir,"  said 
he,  in  a  low  and  resolute  tone.  "Stand  back,  on 
your  life." 

The  stranger  wore  a  long  surtout,  in  which  Doug 
las,  dazzled  by  coming  into  the  light,  did  not  at  first 
discover  the  usual  characteristics  of  an  officer's 
undress.  It  was  thrown  open  in  front,  and  the 
badges  of  his  rank  were  displayed  to  Mr/  Trevor, 
who  stood  before  him.  He  was  arrested  by  Mr. 
Trevor's  startling  words  and  gesture,  and  was  begin 
ning  to  speak  when  Douglas  exclaimed  :  "  What  does 
this  mean  ?  " 

The  stranger  turned,  extended  both  his  arms,  and 
Douglas  rushed  into  them. 

"  My  dear  Trevor !  "  "  My  dear  Whiting !  "  were 
the  mutual  exclamations  of  two  young  men,  who  had 
long  been  to  each  other  as  brothers. 

"  To  what  on  earth,"  asked  Douglas,  "  do  I  owo 
this  pleasure  ?  " 

"  I  come,"  said  the  other,  with  a  melancholy  smile, 


210  The  Partisan  Leader 

and  in  the  kindest  tone,  while  he  still  held  the  hand 
of  Douglas,   "  to  make  you  prisoner." 

Douglas  started  violently,  and  tried  to  disengage 
his  hand :  but  the  other  held  him  firmly  and  went 
on  :  "  Be  calm,  my  dear  fellow.  I  am  your  friend  as 
ever,  but  yet  I  do  not  jest.  You  are  my  prisoner,  OH 
the  absurd  charge  of  high  treason  against  the  United 
States.  My  warrant  is  against  you  and  your  uncle. 
As  it  was  thought  a  military  force  might  be  wanted 
to  support  the  arrest,  I  volunteered  myself  to  receive 
a  deputation  from  the  marshal  that  I  might  shield  you 
both  from  any  indignity.  You,  on  your  part,  I  am 
sure,  will  do  nothing  to  make  my  task  more  painful 

than  it  is.    Is  not  that  gentleman bless  me !  where 

is  he?     Was  not  that  Mr.  Bernard  Trevor  who  just 
left  the  room  ?  " 

"  I  am  Mr.  Bernard  Trevor,"  said  a  voice  behind. 
"Whiting  turned  again,  and  saw  Mr.  Trevor  standing 
where  he  had  been  before.  He  now  observed  that 
there  was  a  door  beside  him,  at  which  he  had  stepped 
out  and  returned.  "  I  am  Mr.  Bernard  Trevor,  sir, 
and  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  welcome,  as  I  would,  the 
friend  of  my  nephew.  You  see  that  I  have  no  mind 
to  leave  the  room,  and  I  therefore  hope  you  will  con 
tent  yourself  to  accept  my  invitation  to  be  seated. 
You  say  that  you  wish  to  shield  me  from  indignity. 
Of  course  you  will  not  unnecessarily  offer  what  I 
shall  feel  as  such.  The  hand  of  authority  must  not 
be  laid  on  me" 

"I  shall  gladly  dispense  with  an  unpleasant  form, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  211 

sir,"  said  Whiting,  "  and  I  trust  I  shall  have  the 
satisfaction  of  convincing  yon  that  my  errand,  though 
painful  to  all  of  us,  is  an  errand  of  friendship." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,  sir.  I  have  heard  of  you 
from  my  nephew,  and  from  under  your  own  hand, 
in  terms  that  give  full  assurance  of  that.  I  shall  be 
happy,  therefore,  to  do  by  you  all  the  duties  of  hos 
pitality.  I  merely  ask  of  you  to  give  your  word  of 
honor,  that,  while  charged  with  your  present  func 
tions,  you  will  be  careful  not  to  touch  my  person." 

"  I  should  be  most  happy,"  said  the  young  man, 
"  to  take  by  the  hand  one  whom  I  so  highly  respect, 
but  I  find  I  must  forego  that  pleasure ;  and  I  give 
the  required  pledge  most  cheerfully*" 

The  courteous  old  gentleman  now  summoned 
Tom,  and  ordered  some  refreshment  for  his  guest ; 
then  throwing  into  his  manner  all  the  frank  courtesy 
of  a  polished  Virginian,  he  led  the  way  in  a  desul 
tory  conversation  on  all  sorts  of  indifferent  subjects. 
Half  an  hour  passed  in  this  way,  when  Tom  appeared 
and  summoned  the  gentlemen  to  supper. 

' "  I  fear,"  said  Whiting,  "  I  am  abusing  my  au 
thority  over  my  poor  fellows  without.  I  have  a 
sergeant  and  half-a-dozen  men  waiting  at  the  gate, 
on  whose  behalf  I  would  fain  invoke  your  hospita 
lity.  But  it  would  be  much  more  agreeable  to  me, 
if  you  and  my  friend  Douglas  will  pass  your  words 
that  their  aid  shall  not  be  necessary,  and  permit  me 
to  order  them  back  to  the  next  public-house." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,"  replied  Mr.  Trevor,  "  that 


212  The  Partisan  Leader. 

I  cannot  do  either;  but  I  pray  you  to  postpone  the 
discussion  until  after  supper." 

"  How,  sir  ?"  exclaimed  Whiting.  "  You  surely 
do  not  mean  to  try  to  escape  me  ?" 

"  Nothing  is  farther  from  my  thoughts,  sir,"  said 
the  old  man,  with  a  proud  smile,  "  than  to  try  to 
escape  you,  or  permit  you  to  escape  me." 

"  To  escape  you,  sir !  What  do  you  mean  ?"  asked 
Whiting. 

"  I  mean  not  to  wound  your  ear  with  a  word  I 
would  not  have  endured  to  have  applied  to  myself. 
I  will  not  say  that  you  are  my  prisoner;  but  I  will 
say  that  we  will  leave  this  house  as  free  as  you 
entered  it.  Come,  my  dear  sir,  while  I  endeavor  to 
requite  your  courtesy,  permit  me  also  to  appropriate 
your  words,  and  say,  as  you  said  to  Douglas,  that  I 
trust  you  will  not  render  it  necessary  to  avail  our 
selves  of  our  superior  force." 

"  I  am  not  sure  you  possess  that  superiority,"  said 
Whiting ;  "  I  have  a  strong  guard  without." 

"  But  they  are  without,  and  you  are  within.  Be 
sides,  you  will  be  readily  excused  from  availing 
yourself  of  them,  when  it  is  known  that  they  are 
prisoners,  in  close  custody." 

"  Prisoners  !"  exclaimed  Whiting.     "  To  whom  ?" 

"  To  my  negroes,"  said  Mr.  Trevor. 

"  Regular  soldiers  prisoners  to  negroes !"  said 
Whiting,  in  amazement.  "It  is  not  credible;  and 
you  manifestly  speak  by  conjecture,  as  you  have  had  no 
means  of  communicating  with  your  friends  without." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  213 

"  I  am  not  in  the  habit,  young  gentleman,"  said 
Mr.  Trevor,  in  a  tone  of  grave  rebuke,  "  of  speak 
ing  positively,  when  I  speak  by  conjecture.  JVIy 
orders  were,  that  I  should  not  be  called  to  supper 
until  they  were  secured.  As  to  the  strangeness  of 
the  affair,"  continued  he,  resuming  his  cheerful  and 
good-humored  smile,  "  think  nothing  of  that.  Re 
member  that  night  is  what  the  negroes  call  '  their 
time  of  day.'  The  eagle  is  no  match  for  the  owl  in  the 
dark.  The  thing  is  as  I  tell  you  ;  so  make  yourself 
easy,  and  let  me  have  the  pleasure  of  doing  the 
duties  of  hospitality  by  my  nephew's  friend.  You 
shall  not  be  unnecessarily  detained.  We  must  ask 
the  pleasure  of  your  company  for  a  three  hours'  ride 
across  the  line  in  the  morning.  I  will  there  give 
you  a  clear  acquittance  against  all  the  responsibility 
you  may  have  incurred,  for  what  you  have  done,  or 
left  undone;  and,  as  soon  as  you  return,  to  restrain 
your  men  from  acts  of  license,  they  shall  be  given 
up  to  you." 

There  was  no  remonstrating  against  this  arrange 
ment;  and  Lieutenant  Whiting,  putting  the  best 
face  he  could  on  the  matter,  permitted  himself  to  be 
conducted  to  supper. 

At  the  head  of  the  supper  table  stood,  as  usual, 
Mrs.  Trevor.  She  seemed  some  six  inches  higher 
than  common,  her  cheek  flushed,  her  nostril  spread, 
her  eye  beaming;. yet  with  all  her  high  feelings  sub 
dued  to  the  duties  of  hospi'ality  and  courtesy.  She 
met  and  returned  the  salutation  of  Whiting  with  the 


214  The  Partisan  Leader. 

stately  grace  of  a  high-bred-lady,  and  then  her  eye 
glanced  to  her  husband  with  a  look  of  irrepressible 
pride.  His  glance  answered  it,  and,  as  they  stood 
for  a  moment  facing  each  other  at  the  opposite  ends 
of  the  table,  Whiting  felt  a  sense  of  admiring  awe, 
such  as  the  presence  of  majesty  in  full  court  had 
never  inspired.  But  this  feeling,  in  a  moment, 
passed  away,  with  its  cause.  The  urbanity  of  the 
gentleman  and  the  suavity  of  the  lady  soon  removed 
all  the  painfulness  of  constraint,  and  the  evening 
passed  as  it  should  pass  between  persons  who  in 
heart  were  friends. 

Neither  Mr.  B nor  Arthur  made  their  appear 
ance.  The  girls,  indeed,  were  present.  The  air 
and  manner  of  Delia  reflected  those  of  her  mother. 
Virginia  looked  a  little  alarmed,  and  Lucia  blush 
ing,  tender,  and  abstracted.  The  interest  of  the 
realities  that  surrounded  her  could  not  quite  dispel 
the  visions  of  excited  fancj^. 

With  these  exceptions,  which  a  stranger  would  not 
observe,  everything  passed  as  in  the  company  of  an 
invited  and  cherished  guest,  and  Whiting  could  not 
be  sorry,  at  heart,  that  he  had  been  baffled  in  his 
attempt  to  disturb  so  sweet  a  domestic  party.  The 
evening  wore  away  not  unpleasantly,  and  he  retired 
to  rest  in  the  same  room  with  Douglas,  to  guard  him, 
or  be  guarded  by  him,  according  as  it  suited  his  fancy 
to  consider  himself  or  his  friend  as  the  other's  prisoner. 

A  word  of  explanation  is  due  on  the  subject  of  the 
captive  guard,  which  will  be  given  in  the  next  chapter. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  215 


CHAPTER    XXIV 

Massa  mighty  cunning — watch  he  nigger  like  a  hawk ; 
But  nigger  like  a  owl — he  watch  massa  in  e  dark. 

JIM  CROW. 

THE  first  words  which  passed  between  Mr.  Trevor 
and  Lieutenant  Whiting,  had  been  overheard  by  Tom, 
who  was  in  the  act  of  leaving  the  room  at  the  mo 
ment.  He  gave  the  alarm  to  his  mistress,  who  hasten 
ing  to  her  husband,  met  him  at  the  door,  and  just  re 
ceived  from  him  the  instructions  already  mentioned. 

She  immediately  sent  for  Mr.  B ,  who,  with  Jack's 

aid,  was  in  the  act  of  distributing  arms  and  ammuni 
tion  to  the  negroes.  To  him  the  management  of  the 
whole  affair  was  committed.  No  doubt  was  enter 
tained  that  Lieutenant  Whiting  had  not  come  unat 
tended.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  ascertain 
the  force  by  which  he  was  supported,  and  the  place 
where  he  had  posted  his  men. 

They,  meantime,  quietly  awaited  the  return  of  their 
officer  at  the  great  gate,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
house.  Rather  as  a  point  of  military  etiquette  than 
from  an  idea  that  any  precaution  was  necessary,  they 
had  stacked  their  arms  in  form  before  the  gate,  and 
stationed  a  sentinel,  who,  with  head  erect  and  military 

2  ' 


216  The  Partisan  Leader. 

step,  walked  his  post  in  front  of  them.  They  bad 
not  long  been  there,  before  they  heard  a  negro's 
voice,  who,  as  he  approached  from  the  house,  sung 
merrily  a  song,  of  which  only  the  following  lines 
could  be  distinguished  : 

"  Peep  froo  de  winder ;  see  break  o'  day  ; 
Run  down  to  riber ;  canoe  gone  away. 
Put  foot  in  water;  water  mighty  cold  ; 
Hear  O'sur  call  me ;  hear  Missis  scold. 
0  dear !  my  dear !  what  shall  I  do  ? 
My  Massa  whip  me,  cause  I  love  you." 

The  song  ceased,  and  cuffee  advanced  in  silence, 
but  with  a  heavy  swinging  step,  that  rung  audibly  on 
the  hard  ground.  As  soon  as  his  dusky  figure  began 
to  be  distinguishable,  which  was  not  until  he  was 
quite  near,  he  was  arrested  by  the  sharp  challenge  of 
the  sentry. 

"High!"  exclaimed  the  negro,  in  a  tone  of 
amazement  and  alarm:  " Law-Gorramiffhtv t  what 
dis?" 

"  Advance  !"  said  the  sentinel,  mechanically,  "  and 
give  the  countersign," 

"  What  dat,  Massa  ?  I  never  see  such  a  ting-  in  mv 
life." 

"Advance!"  repeated  the  sentry,  bringing  his 
piece  down  with  a  rattling  sound  against  his  rigkt  side. 

The  metal  glimmered  in  the  light  from  the  windows, 
The  negro  caught  the  gleam,  and,  falling  flat  on  his 
face,  roared  lustily  for  mercy. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  217 

The  Sergeant  now  went  to  him,  raised  him  up, 
calmed  his  fears,  and,  as  soon  as  he  could  be  made  to 
understand  anything,  asked  if  Lieutenant  Whiting 
was  at  the  house. 

"  I  hear  'em  say,  sir,  one  mighty  grand  gentleman 
went  there  while  ago.  Old  Tom  say,  he  Mass  Doug- 
las'  old  crony,  and  Massa  and  Mass  Douglas,  and  all, 
mighty  glad  to  see  him." 

"  The  devil  they  are !"  said  the  Sergeant.  "  Well, 
I  hope  they'll  be  mighty  glad  to  see  us,  too.  I  do  not 
care  how  soon,  for  this  night  air  is  something  of  the 
sharpest;  and  I  have  drawn  better  rations  than  we 
had  at  that  damned  tavern.  I  say,  darkee ;  the  old 
man  keeps  good  liquor,  and  plenty  of  belly-timber, 
don't  he?" 

"Ah,  Lord!  Yes,  Massa,  I  reckon  he  does.  But 
it  an't  much  I  knows  about  it.  Old  Massa  mighty 
hard  man,  sir.  Poor  negur  don't  see  much  o'  he  good 
ting." 

"  But,  I  suppose,  he  gives  his  friends  a  plenty  ?" 

"  Oh,  to  be  sure,  sir  !  Massa  mighty  proud.  Great 
gentleman  come  see  him,  he  an't  got  nothing  too 
good  for  him.  But  poor  white  folks  and  poor  negur ! 
— pshaw  !" 

"  A  bad  look-out  for  us,  Eogers,"  said  the  Sergeant 
to  one  of  his  men.  "  Damn  the  old  hunks,  I  hope  he 
don't  mean  to  leave  us  to  bivouack  here  all  night. 

C 

Well,  we  must  wait  our  hour,  as  the  Lieutenant  told 
us,  and  then  he'll  come  back  to  us,  or  we  have  to 
march  to  the  house.  Damn  it!  I  shall  be  pretty 


218  The  Partisan  Leader. 

sharp-set  by  that  time,  and  if  it  comes  to  that  the  old 
gentleman's  kitchen  and  wine-cellar  may  look  out  for 
a  storm." 

"  You  talk  like  you  hungry,  Massa,"  said  the  negro, 
in  a  tone  of  sympathy.  "I  mighty  sorry  I  an't  got 
nothing  to  give  you." 

"But  could  not  you  get  something,  cuffee  ?  Is 
there  no  key  to  your  master's  cellar  and  smoke-house 
besides  the  one  he  keeps  ?  Don't  you  think,  now,  you 
could  get  us  some  of  his  old  apple-brandy  ?  I  hear 
he  has  it  of  all  ages." 

"  Ah,  Lord,  Massa ;  dat  you  may  be  sure  of.  I 
hear  old  Tom  say  brandy  dare  older  an  he ;  and  he 
most  a  hundred.  'Spose  I  bring  you  some  o'  dat, 
Massa,  what  you  gwine  give  me  ?" 

"  Will  a  quarter  do  for  a  bottle  of  it?" 

"  Law,  Massa !  "Why  he  same  like  gold.  Half  a 
dolla,  Massa!" 

"  Well,  bring  us  a  bottle  of  the  right  old  stuff, 
mind ! — and  you  shall  have  half  a  dollar.  And  see, 
darkee ;  cannot  you  bring  us  a  little  cold  bread  and 
meat  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  Massa,  what  de  cook  say.  I  try 
her." 

"  Well,  go  ;  and,  while  your  hand  is  in,  help  your 
self  well.  If  the  liquor  is  good,  maybe  we'll  take 
two  or  three  bottles." 

"  Well,  Massa,  I  try  old  Tom.  lie  keep  de  key. 
Ah,  Lord!  Old  Massa  tink  Tom  mighty  desperate 
honest ;  and  he  tink  Tom  love  him  so — better  an  he 


The  Partisan  Leader.  219 

own  self.  He  better  mind;  one  o'  dese  days  Tom 
show  him  how  dat  is." 

"  I  don't  think  you  love  him  much  yourself,  Sam 
bo." 

Who? — I,  Massa?  My  name  Jack,  sir.  Lord,  no 
sir  I  What  I  love  him  for?  Hard  work  and  little 
bread,  and  no  meat  ?  No,  Massa,  I  love  soldier ;  cause 
I  hear  'em  say  soldier  come  after  a  while,  set  poor 
nigur  free." 

"  That  is  true  enough.  I  hope  it  will  not  be  long 
before  we  set  you  all  free  from  these  damned  man- 
stealers.  How  would  you  like  to  go  with  us?" 

"  Lord,  Massa,  you  joking.  Go  wid  you  ?  I  reckon 
the  old  man  find  it  right  hard  to  get  somebody  to 
saddle  his  horse  if  all  our  folks  was  here." 

"  Well,  cuffee,  the  old  man's  in  hockley  by  this 
time ;  and  when  we  march  him  off  in  the  morning, 
you  will  have  nobody  to  stop  you.  But  bring  us  the 
brandy,  and  then  we'll  talk  about  it." 

"Ees,  Massa!  tank  ye,  Massa!  But,  Massa,  I  got 
two  boys  big  as  me,  and  my  brother,  and  my  wife, 
and  all ;  I  don't  want  to  leave  them.  And,  Massa, 
my  boys  got  some  apples.  You  want  some,  sir  ?" 

"  To  be  sure  I  do.  Bring  them  along ;  but  mind 
and  bring  the  brandy,  at  all  events." 

The  negro  disappeared,  and  the  soldiers  occupied 
themselves  in  discussing  the  means  of  making  a  pro 
fitable  speculation  on  their  disposition  to  leave  their 
master.  They  were  still  on  this  topic  when  they 
heard  Jack  returning,  with  several  more.  Ono 


220  The    Partisan  Leader. 

brought  a  chunk  of  fire  ;  another  a  basket  of  apples ; 
another  one  of  eggs ;  a  fourth  came  provided  with 
some  cold  provisions;  Jack  himself  brandished  a 
couple  of  bottles  of  brandy;  and  one  of  his  bovs 
brought  a  pail  of  water  and  a  tin  cup.  The  li«juor 
was  tasted,  approved,  paid  for,  and  eagerly  swallowed. 
A  torch  of  light  wood  being  kindled,  a  chaffering 
commenced,  interrupted  by  occasional  allusions  to  the 
interesting  subjects  of  slavery,  hard  masters,  and 
emancipation.  The  brandy,  however,  chiefly  engaged 
the  attention  of  the  soldiers.  The  sentry,  whose  duty 
was  but  formal,  was  permitted  to  join,  as  the  guns 
were  but  a  few  feet  off.  just  without  the  gate,  which 
stood  open.  The  light  of  the  torch  glittered  strongly 
on  the  arms,  and  seemed  to  make  all  things  distinct, 
while  in  fact  its  unsteady  flickering  did  little  more 
than  dazzle  their  eyes.  The  negro  held  it  aloft,  and, 
as  if  to  brighten  the  flame,  occasionally  waved  it  to 
and  fro.  Suddenly  it  dropped  from  his  hand  into  the 
pail  of  water,  and  in  an  instant  the  blackness  of  im 
penetrable  darkness  shrouded  every  eye. 

At  the  same  moment,  a  heavy  trampling,  as  from 
a  rush  of  many  feet,  was  heard  without  the  gate,  and 
a  shivering  clash  from  the  stack  of  arms,  as  if  it  had 
fallen  down.  The  soldiers  groped  their  way  towards 
it,  feeling  where  they  supposed  it  to  be.  They  felt 
in  vain.  They  winked  hard,  as  if  to  free  their  ey<3 
from  the  blinding  impression  left  by  the  flaring 
light,  then  opened  them,  and  looked  about.  Judge 
their  astonishment,  when,  as  they  began  to  recover 


The  Partisan  Leader.  221 

their  sight,  they  found  themselves  surrounded  by  a 
dusky  ring,  from  which  issued  a  voice,  not  unlike 
that  of  their  friend  Jack,  which  informed  them,  in 
good  English,  that  they  were  prisoners.  The  prick 
of  a  bayonet  on  one  or  two  who  endeavored  to  pass 
through  the  circle,  convinced  them  that  such  was 
the  fact ;  and,  after  a  short  parley,  they  permitted 
themselves  to  be  marched  off,  and  safely  stowed 
away  in  a  strong  outhouse. 

I  would  not  have  the  reader  give  the  negroes  the 
credit   of  this  stratagem.     It  had  been  devised   by 

B ,  who  knew  that  he  could  depend  upon   the 

address  and  quick  wit  of  Jack  for  drawing  tho 
soldiers  into  the  snare.  All  that  part  of  the  business 
had  been  left  to  his  own  discretion.  As  soon  as  he 
had  secured  the  amicable  reception  of  himself  and  a 
few  others,  the  rest,  dividing  into  two  parties,  left  the 
house,  and,  crossing  the  fence  at  some  distance  from 
the  gate,  and  on  each  side  of  it,  advanced  stealthily 
toward  it.  Here  they  met,  and  having  arranged 
themselves  for  a  sudden  rush  on  the  stack  of  arms, 
an  agreed  signal  was  given  by  a  negro  who  pos 
sessed  a  faculty  of  mimicking  the  voices  of  all  ani 
mals.  As  soon  as  the  light  was  extinguished,  the 
necessar}^  number  rushed  forward  to  the  object  on 
which  their  eyes  had  been  fixed  ;  seized  the  arms, 
and,  falling  back,  ranged  themselves  in  a  half  circle 
outside  of  the  gate.  Those  who  had  been  with  the 
soldiers,  and  who  all  wore  concealed  arms,  closed 
in  behind  them,  and  completely  hemmed  them  in. 


222  The  Partisan  Leader. 

B ,  in  the  mean  time,  who  had  his  reasons  for  not 

wishing  to  be  seen,  kept  aloof;  and,  as  soon  as  he 
knew  that  the  soldiers  were  secured,  returned  to  the 
house.  There,  too,  he  took  care  not  to  show  him 
self;  and  Arthur  was  advised  that  he  should  not,  by 
making  his  appearance,  at  all  involve  himself  in  what 
had  been  done. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  223 


CHAPTEE    XXV. 

• 

And  even  there,  his  eye  being  big  with  tears, 
Turning  his  face,  he  put  his  hand  behind  him, 
And,  with  affection  wondrous  sensible, 
He  wrung  Bassanio's  hand,  and  so  they  parted. 

SHAKSPEARE. 

AT  daylight,  all  was  in  motion.  Arthur  and  Vir 
ginia,  being  affectionately  dismissed  by  their  friends, 
were  first  upon  the  road,  before  Lieutenant  Whiting 
was  awake.  Much  of  the  night  had  been  spent  in 
preparations,  and  long  before  sunrise  Douglas  handed 
his  aunt  and  cousins  into  their  carriage.  His  uncle 
mounted  the  barouche,  with  Jack  for  driver,  by  whose 
side  old  Tom  was  placed;  while  the  lady's  maid 
took  her  seat  by  her  single-minded  master,  with  a 
freedom  from  which  an  amalgamationist  would  have 
drawn  the  most  pleasing  inferences.  No  other  white 
person  was  seen  ;  but  a  body-guard  of  twenty  negroes, 
well  armed,  and  mounted  on  plough  horses,  some 
saddled,  some  cushioned,  and  some  barebacked, 
surrounded  the  carriages  and  baggage- wagon.  In 
the  midst  rode  Douglas  and  his  friend  on  horseback. 

"You  see,"  said  Mr.  Trevor  to  Whiting,  as  he 
took  his  place  in  the  barouche,  "  that  the  part  these 

2* 


224  T^-    Partisan   Leader. 

faithful  creatures  took  in  last  night's  work,  drives 
them  into  exile  as  well  as  me.  I  must  not  leave 
them  behind  to  be  the  victims  of  baffled  malice. 
What  is  to  become  of  rny  plantation,  is  a  question 
of  less  importance.  I  suppose  I  may  say  with  Cin- 
cinnatus,  when  honor  was  forced  on  him  as  it  is  on 
me,  rny  fields  must  go  un tilled  this  year  !  You  see 
here,  sir,  my  whole  male  force.  Not  one  proved 
recreant." 

"This  affair  is  altogether  unaccountable  to  me," 
said  Whiting  to  Douglas,  as  they  moved  off  toge 
ther ;  "and  this  the  strangest  feature  of  the  whole. 
Do  men,  then,  act  without  motives ;  and  against  all 
assignable  motives  ?" 

•  "I  asked  the  same  question  myself  last  night," 
said  Douglas,  "and  was  referred  to  coming  events 
for  the  answer.  I  was  partly  taught,  at  the  same 
time,  to  account  for  what  I  was  told  to  expect." 
"  And  how  can  it  be  accounted  for?" 
"  I  cannot  say  I  have  my  lesson  perfect;  but  some 
thing  was  said  about  the  difference  of  character  pro 
duced  by  peculiar  training,  and  habitudes  of  mind 
formed  by  circumstances.  For  my  part,  it  appears 
to  me  that  there  must  be  something,  by  nature,  in 
the  moral  constitution  of  the  negro,  intrinsically  dif 
ferent  from  the  white  man." 

"It  would,  indeed,  seem  so,"  said  Whiting,  "if 
we  are  to  credit  what  we  see.  But,  in  that  case,  we 
must  reject  the  authority  which  tells  us  that  all  are  of 
one  race.'' 


The   Partisan  Leader.  225 

"  So  are  all  dogs,"  said  Douglas ;  "  and  dogs  can 
no  more  act  without  motive  than  man.  It  depends 
on  temper  and  character  what  shall  be  motives  of 
action.  The  wolf  would  be  sadly  puzzled  to  judge 
of  the  motives  of  the  Newfoundland  dog.  May  not 
circumstances,  which  have  made  the  difference  be 
tween  them,  have  produced  the  much  less  difference 
between  the  white  man  and  the  negro  ?  I  have  no 
measure  for  the  effect  of  such  causes.  If  am  put 
to  choose  between  rejecting  the  evidence  of  my  own- 
senses,  or  the  evidence  of  God's  word,  or  the  philo 
sophy  which  teaches  that  man  is  to  be  considered  as 
a  unit,  because  all  of  one  race,  philosophy  must  go 
by  the  board.  It  may  be  that  what  is  best  for  me  is 
best  for  my  friend  Jack  there,  and  vice  versa;  but  as 
long  as  neither  of  us  thinks  so,  why  not  leave  each 
to  his  choice?  Besides,  there  is  more  room  in  the 
world  for  both  of  us,  than  if  both  always  wanted  the 
same  things." 

A  ride  of  a  few  hours  carried  the  party  across  the 
line  into  North  Carolina.  Here  they  stopped  at  the 
first  public-house;  arid  Mr.  Trevor  drew  up  a  hasty 
statement  of  the  events  of  the  night,  which  should 
have  the  effect  of  acquitting  Lieutenant  Whiting  of 
all  blame,  on  account  of  his  own  escape  from  the 
fangs  of  his  enemies.  In  this  he  set  forth  that, 
having  been  warned  of  the  intended  prosecution,  he 
had  made  his  preparations  accordingly,  and  that  the 
officer  had  but  fallen  into  a  snare  from  which  no 
vigilance  could  have  saved  him.  This  he  signetl.. 


226  The    Partisan  Leader. 

and  gave,  moreover,  a  clear  acquittance  to  Lieutenant 
Whiting  for  all  he  had  done;  and  having  thus  placed 
him,  as  far  as  depended  on  himself,  rectus  in  curia, 
he  announced  to  him  that  he  was  now  at  liberty  to 
go  whither  he  would. 

"And  now,  sir,"  said  he,  "as  the  spell  which 
would  have  made  your  touch  degrading  is  broken 
by  the  State  line,  let  me  have  the  pleasure  of  taking 
you  by  the  hand,  not  only  as  my  nephew's  friend, 
but  as  one  who,  in  the  extremes  of  victory  and  de 
feat,  as  captor  and  as  prisoner,  has  borne  himself  as 
became  a  gentleman." 

Saying  this,  he  extended  his  hand,  which  Whiting 
grasped  with  fervor,  and  they  parted  as  friends 
cordial  and  sincere. 

Douglas  accompanied  his  friend  a  short  distance 
on  his  return,  the  latter  walking,  and  leading  his 
horse.  They  conversed  of  the  past  and  the  future. 

"  I  have  been  a  volunteer  in  this  business,"  said 
Whiting.  "I  shall  not  disguise  that  my  friendship 
for  you  led  me  to  offer  my  services,  and  I  fear  that 
no  excuse  will  be  received  for  my  failure.  There  is 
a  spirit  somewhere  at  work,  to  which  I  will  give  no 
name,  that  will  be  implacable  at  the  thought  that  any 
advantage  may  have  been  lost  by  my  respect  for  your 
feelings." 

"  I  am  afraid  it  may  prove  so,"  replied  Douglas. 
"  The  consequence  may  be  fatal  to  your  advancement 
in  the  army,  and  perhaps  you  may  be  driven  from  it, 
as  I  have  been.  Should  it  be  so,  my  dear  Whiting 


The  Partisan  Leader.  227 

—but  I  will  not  profit  so  little  by  the  example  of 
delicacy  set  me  while  I  wore  the  epaulette,  as  to  say 
any  thing  to  you  now.  I  would  content  myself  with 
telling  you  where  I  shall  be  found,  if  I  myself  knew. 
But  shall  I  keep  you  advised  of  my  movements?" 

"By  all  means,"  said  Whiting.  "  I  shall  always 
wish  to  know  your  fate,  whether  good  or  ill." 

"I  know  that,"  replied  Douglas.  "But  that  is 
not  my  meaning.  Shall  I  let  you  know  where  to 
find  me,  in  case  circumstances  should  lead  you  to 
share  my  fate  ?" 

"  Don't  ask  me  that,  Trevor.  The  question  implies 
ideas  which  I  must  not  entertain.  But  should  such  a 
time  as  you  suppose  ever  arrive,  I  shall  know  where  to 
find  you,  should  my  opinions  make  it  right  to  seek  you." 

"  Then,  God  bless  you,  Whiting !  That  we  shall 
meet  again  is  sure.  That  we  shall  stand  shoulder  to 
shoulder  in  the  strife  of  battle,  as,  in  our  day  dreams, 
we  have  so  often  thought  of  doing,  I  cannot  doubt." 

And  thus  parted  these  gallant  and  generous  youths ; 
the  one  into  exile  from  the  country  that  he  loved,  the 
other  to  return  to  the  service  of  an  unthankful  master. 

A  farther  ride  of  a  few  miles  brought  our  party  to 
the  village,  in  which  Mr.  Trevor  wished  to  take  up 

his  temporary  residence.  Here  he  found  Mr.  B , 

who  had  been  engaged  in  investigating  the  comforts 
and  capabilities  of  the  different  public-houses,  and 
having  fixed  on  that  he  liked  best,  met  Mr.  Trevor 
in  the  street,  and  conducted  the  party  to  it.  The 
two  friends  soon  drew  apart  to  discuss  with  the  land- 


228  The  Partisan  Leader. 

lord  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  comfort  of 
the  family  during  their  proposed  stay. 

While  they  were  thus  engaged,  Douglas  seated 
himself,  after  the  manner  of  the  country,  in  the  bar 
room,  in  which,  besides  some  travellers,  there  was  a 
motley  assemblage  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  village, 
who  had  come  in  to  stare  at  and  talk  about  the  new 
comers.  By  the  time  Douglas  had  taken  care  of  the 
ladies  and  baggage,  they  were  deep  into  the  merits 
of  the  whole  party  ;  and,  when  he  entered  the  room, 
they  were  too  busy  talking  to  pay  any  attention  to 
him.  The  principal  interlocutors  were  three.  First, 
a  well-dressed,  middle-aged  man,  whose  dapper  air 
and  delicate  hands  bespoke  one  accustomed  to  bow 
ing  across  a  counter  over  lace  patterns  and  painted 
muslins  ;  and  whose  style  of  eloquence  was  exactly 
adapted  to  the  praise  of  such  articles.  Then  there 
was  a,  coarse,  strong  man,  with  a  bacon-fed  look, 
plainly,  cheaply,  and  un tastefully  dressed,  in  clothes 
which,  by  their  substantial  goodness,  indicated  at 
once  the  wearer's  prudence,  and  the  length  of  his 
purse.  His  voice  was  loud,  strong,  and  self-im 
portant,  entirely  devoid  of  melody,  and  incapable  of 
inflection  or  modulation.  His  whole  appearance 
showed  him  to  be  a  substantial  planter,  ignorant  of 
every  thing  but  corn  and  tobacco.  A  huge  whip  in 
the  hand  of  the  third,  together  with  his  dusty  and 
travel-soiled  appearance,  denoted  the  driver  of  a 
wagon  which  stood  before  the  door. 

Their  conversation  I  reserve  for  the  next  chapter. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  22() 


CHAPTER    XXYI. 


If  she  be  not  kind  to  me, 

What  care  I  how  kind  she  be  ?  SUCKLING. 


"  I  CANNOT  say  I  like  it  altogether,  Squire,"  said 
the  planter.  "  It  may  suit  my  neighbor  Jones,  here, 
well  enough  to  have  one  of  them  high-headed  Roa- 
noke  planters  to  come  here  with  his  family,  and  spend 
his  money.  I  dare  say  he  will  make  a  pretty  good 
spec  out  of  them ;  but,  for  my  part,  I  would  rather 
they  would  stay  at  home,  and  live  under  their  own 
laws.  I  ha'nt  got  no  notion,  after  they  saddled  that 
damned  rascal  Yan  Buren  upon  us  so  long,  that  now, 
the  minute  we  have  shook  him  off  and  made  a  good 
government,  and  good  treaties,  and  all,  they  should 
be  wanting  to  have  a  sop  in  our  pan.  If  that's  what 
they  are  after,  in  rebelling  against  their  government, 
I  don't  want  to  give  them  no  countenance.  What 
we  have  done,  we  have  done  for  ourselves,  and  we 
have  a  right  to  all  the  good  of  it.  They  have  fixed 
their  market  to  their  liking,-  and  let  it  stand  so.  If 
we  can  get  thirty  dollars  for  our  tobacco,  and  they 
cannot  get  ten,  I  reckon  we  ha'nt  got  nobody  to  thank 
for  it  but  ourselves.  I  dare  say,  now  they  see  how 


230  The  Partisan  Leader. 

the  thing  works,  they  would  be  glad  enough  to  share 
with  us,  but  I  see  plain  enough  that  all  they  would 
get  by  joining  us,  we  would  lose,  and  may  be  more 
too." 

"  You  are  right  there,  Mr.  Hobson,"  said  the  mer 
chant;  "and  that  is  not  all.  There's  an  advantage 
in  buying  as  well  as  selling.  Now  as  to  this  Mr. 
Trevor,  or  whatever  his  name  is,  coming  over  here, 
and  buying  things  cheaper  than  he  could  get  them 
at  home — why  that  he  is  welcome  to.  Though  you 
may  be  sure,  neighbor,  I  don't  let  him  have  them  as 
cheap  as  I  sell  to  you.  But  as  to  letting  in  the  Nor 
folk  merchants  to  all  the  advantage  of  our  treaty 
with  England,  that  is  another  matter.  For  though, 
when  we  deepen  the  bar  at  Ocracock,  I  have  no 
doubt  our  town  down  there  will  be  another  sort  of  a 
place  to  what  Norfolk  ever  was,  yet  if  Virginia  was 
to  join  us  now,  right  away,  the  most  of  the  trade 
would  go  to  Norfolk  again,  and  they  would  get  their 
goods  there  as  cheap  as  we  get  them  here,  and  may 
be  a  little  cheaper.  So  you  see  it  is  against  my 
interest  as  well  as  yours ;  and  I  don't  like  the 
thoughts  of  putting  in  a  crop,  and  letting  another 
man  gather  it,  any  more  than  you  do." 

"It  would  be  harder  upon  me  than  any  of  you," 
isaid  the  wagoner ;  "  for  if  that  was  the  case,  that 
damned  railroad  would  break  up  my  business,  stock 
and  fluke.  As  it  is,  there  never  was  such  a  time  for 
wagoning  before.  Instead  of  just  hauling  the  little 
tobacco  that  is  made  here  to  the  end  of  the  railroad, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  231 

now  I  have  the  hauling  of  the  Virginia  tobacco,  and 
all,  down  to  Commerce"* 

It  is  hard  to  say  whether  surprise  or  disgust  most 
prevailed  in  the  mind  of  Douglas  at  hearing  these 
ro marks.  The  idea  of  the  advantages  lost  to  Vir 
ginia,  by  her  connexion  with  the  North,  had  never 
entered  his  mind ;  but  still  less  had  he  conceived  it 
possible  that  a  sordid  desire  to  monopolize  these 
advantages,  could  stifle,  in  the  minds  of  the  North 
Carolinians,  every  feeling  of  sympathy  with  the 
oppressed  and  persecuted  assertors  of  the  rights  of 
Virginia.  The  reply  of  Mr.  Hobson  to  the  remark 
of  the  wagoner  gave  him  a  yet  deeper  insight  into 
that  dark  and  foul  corner  of  the  human  heart,  where 
self  predominates  over  all  the  better  affections. 

"  I  don't  think  that's  right  fair  in  you  wagoners," 
said  he.  "You  haul  the  Virginian  tobacco  down  to 
Commerce,  and  when  it  gets  there  it  is  all  the  same 
as  mine.  Now,  if  it  was  not  for  that,  I  am  not  so 
mighty  sure  but  I'd  get  forty  dollars  instead  of 
thirty  ;  and  I  don't  like  to  lose  ten  dollars  to  give 
you  a  chance  to  get  one." 

"  It  is  all  one  to  me,"  said  the  wagoner.     "  You 

*  The  reader  will  look,  in  vain,  on  the  map,  for  the  name  of  this 
place.  It  was  somewhere  on  the  waters  of  the  Sound,  and,  doubt 
less,  would  have  become  a  place  of  some  consequpnce,  had  not  the 
union  of  Virginia  to  the  Southern  Confederacy  laid  the  foundation  for 
a  degree  of  prosperity  in  Norfolk,  which  bids  fair  to  make  it  the  first 
city  on  the  continent.  The  town  of  Commerce,  of  course,  went  down 
with  the  necessity  which  gave  rise  to  it. 


232  The  Partisan  Leader. 

may  just  pay  rne  the  same  for  not  hauling  that  they 
pay  me  for  hauling,  or  only  half  as  much,  and  I  will 
not  haul  another  hogshead." 

"  But  if  you  won't,  another  will,"  said  Hobson. 

"  Like  enough,"  replied  the  wagoner ;  "  for  all 
trades  must  live ;  and  if  them  poor  devils  get  a 
chance  to  sell  a  hogshead  or  two,  instead  of 
leaving  it  all  to  rot,  you  ought  not  to  grudge  them 
that." 

"  Certainly  not,"  said  the  merchant,  "  for  I  guess 
that  whatever  they  get,  they  take  care  to  lay  it  all 
out  in  goods  on  this  side  of  the  line.  So  the  money 
stays  with  us  after  all,  and  friend  Stubbs's  hauling 
does  good  to  more  besides  him." 

"  I  see,"  said  Hobson,  "  how  it  does  good  to  you, 
but  none  to  me." 

"  But  that  an't  all,  Mr.  Hobson,"  said  the  landlord, 
who  had  entered  while  this  conversation  was  going 
on.  "  Them  hot-headed  fellows  over  the  line  there, 
like  this  old  Squire  Trevor,  will  be  getting  them 
selves  into  hot  water  every  now  and  then  ;  and  when 
they  run  away  and  come  to  us,  if  they  did  not  bring 
no  money,  we'd  have  to  feed  them  free  gratis  for 
nothing.  Now  Stubbs  hauls  Squire  Trevor's  to 
bacco  to  Commerce,  and  he  gets  a  good  price  ;  and 
then  he  gets  into  trouble,  and  comes  over  here  to 
stay  with  me,  and  so  he  is  able  to  pay  me  a  good 
price  ;  and  here  it  is,"  added  he,  showing  a  roll  of 
notes. 

"  Still,"  said  Hobson,  "  1  don't  see  how  that  does 


The  Partisan  Leader.  233 

me  any  good.  If  they  were  to  come  here  begging, 
damn  the  mouthful  I'd  give  them." 

"  Then  you  would  leave  the  whole  burden  on  the 
poor  tavern-keepers,"  said  the  landlord. 

"  No — I  would  not.  I  would  not  let  them  come  ; 
or,  if  they  did,  just  give  them  up  to  their  own  go 
vernment.  If  they  had  not  a  chance  to  be  running 
over  here,  as  soon  as  they  got  into  trouble,  they 
would  keep  quiet,  and  never  get  a  chance  to  sepa 
rate,  and  so  ruin  our  business,  whether  they  joined 
us  or  no." 

"  Old  Rip  is  wide  awake  at  last,"  said  a  voice 
from  behind  ;  u  but  it  is  to  his  interest  only." 

Douglas  turned  to  the  voice  of  the  speaker,  the 
tone  of  which  expressed  a  scorn  and  derision  most 
acceptable  to  his  feelings.  He  was  a  tall  and  fine- 
looking  man,  powerfully  made,  and  inclined  to  be 
fat,  but  not  at  all  unwieldy.  The  half  laughing 
expression  of  his  large,  blue  eye,  and  the  protrusion 
of  his  under  lip,  spoke  his  careless  contempt  of  those 
whose  conversation  had  called  forth  his  sarcasm. 
The  attention  of  the  whole  company  was  drawn  to 
him  at  the  same  moment ;  all  looking  as  if  they 
wished  to  say  something,  without  knowing  what. 
At  length  the  wagoner  spoke,  on  the  well  under 
stood  principle  that,  when  men  talk  of  what  they 
understand  imperfectly,  he  who  knows  least  should 
be  always  first  to  show  his  ignorance. 

"  I  cannot  say  I  understand  rightly  what  you 
mean,  stranger,"  said  he ;  "  but  I  guess,  by  the  cut 


234  The  Partisan  Leader. 

of  your  jib,  that  you  are  one  of  them  high  dons  from 
South  Carolina,  that  always  have  money  to  throw 
away,  and  think  a  body  ought  never  to  care  any 
more  for  himself  than  another.  But  this  business 
don't  consarn  you,  no  how,  because  these  people 
don't  interfere  with  your  cotton  crop." 

"  Yes,  but  they  do,  though,"  said  Hobson ;  "  for 
if  they  drive  me  from  tobacco,  I  shall  make  cotton. 
But,  if  I  can  keep  them  out  of  the  tobacco  market, 
I  shall  be  willing  to  give  up  the  making  of  cotton  to 
South  Carolina." 

"  Why,  that  is  true,"  said  the  stranger,  with  a 
sudden  change  of  his  countenance,  from  which  he 
discharged,  in  a  moment,  every  appearance  of  intel 
ligence,  but  that  which  seemed  to  reflect  the  superior 
wisdom  of  Mr.  Hobson.  "  That  is  true,"  said  he, 
looking  as  if  making  a  stupid  attempt  to  think  ;  "  I 
had  not  thought  of  that  before." 

As  he  said  this,  he  sunk  slowly  and  thoughtfully 
into  a  chair,  his  knees  falling  far  asunder,  his  arms 
dropping  across  his  thighs,  his  body  bent  forward, 
and  his  face  turned  up  toward  Mr.  Hobson,  with 
the  look  of  one  who  desires  and  expects  to  receive 
important  information.  The  whole  action  spoke  so 
eloquently  to  Mr.  Hobson 's  self-esteem,  that  he  went 
on,  with  an  air  of  the  most  gracious  complacency. 

"  You  see,  stranger,  just  shutting  only  a  part  of 
the  Virginian  tobacco  out  of  the  market,  makes  a 
difference  of  ten  dollars,  at  the  very  least,  in  the 
price  of  mine.  Now,  we  used  to  make  a  heap  of 


The  Partisan  Leader.  235 

cotton  in  this  country,  hut  we  are  all  going  to  give 
it  up  quite  entirely,  and  then,  you  see,  it  stands  to 
reason  it  will  make  a  difference  of  five  cents  a  pound, 
or  may  be  ten,  in  your  cotton." 

This  interesting  proposition  was  received  by  the 
stranger  with  a  sluggish  start  of  dull  surprise,  from 
which  he  sunk  again  into  the  same  appearance  of 
stolid  musing.  "To  think  what  a  fool  I  have  been," 
said  he,  after  a  long  pause.  Then,  scratching  his 
head,  and  twisting  in  his  chair,  he  added  :  "  You  are 
right.  You  are  right ;  and  the  only  way  to  manage 
the  matter  is  to  get  your  Legislature  to  pass  a  law, 
as  you  say,  to  make  those  fellows  stay  at  home." 

"  To  be  sure  it  would,"  said  the  gratified  Hobson  ; 
"  but  then  there  are  so  many  conceited  fellows  in  the 
Legislature,  with  a  fool's  notion  in  their  heads  about 
taking  sides  with  them  that  cannot  help  themselves, 
that  there  is  no  getting  anything  done." 

"  Well,"  said  the  stranger,  "  this  gentleman  guessed 
right  when  he  said  I  was  from  South  Carolina.  So 
I  don't  know  any  thing  about  your  laws  here.  But 
I  suppose  you  have  no  law  to  hurt  a  man  for  taking 
up  one  that  runs  away  from  the  law  in  Virginia,  and 
carrying  him  back.  I  expect  old  Van  would  pay 
well  for  them." 

Hobson  looked  hard  at  the  stranger,  and  only 
answered  with  that  compound  motion  of  the  head, 
which,  partaking  at  once  of  a  shake  and  a  nod, 
expresses  both  assent  and  caution. 

The  landlord  and  merchant  both  exclaimed  against 


236  The  Partisan  Leader. 

this  suggestion,  the  one  illustrating  his  argument  by 
the  freedom  with  which  his  guest  had  ordered  wine 
from  the  bar;  the  other,  by  his  former  experience  of 
his  liberality  as  a  purchaser  of  goods,  while  he  kept 
a  store  in  Mr.  Trevor's  neighborhood,  which  he  had 
withdrawn  since  the  revolution.  Among  the  bystand 
ers  there  was  no  expression  of  opinion,  but  that  sort 
of  silence  which  betokens  an  idea  that  what  has  been 
said  is  well  worth  considering. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  237 


CHAPTEK    XXYII. 

Sic  vos  non  vobis. — VIRGIL. 

IN  the  meantime,  Mr.  B had  entered  the  room, 

and,  hearing  the  stranger's  voice,  placed  himself  at 
the  back  of  his  chair,  looking  on  with  a  playful 
smile.  He  now  spoke— 

"  Have  you  played  out  the  play  ?"  said  he. 

The  stranger  sprang  to  his  feet  in  a  moment,  and, 

facing  B ,  caught  him  by  the  hand,  which  he 

shook  with  an  energy  which  seemed  to  threaten  dis 
location.  The  two  then  turned  off,  and  left  the  room 
together. 

"This  is  most  fortunate,  my  dear  sir,"  said  the 
stranger  ;  "  but,  pray  tell  me,  how  happens  it  that  I 
find  you  here  ?" 

"  Do  you  not  perceive,"  said  B ,  "  that  I  have 

a  friend  in  trouble,  and  that  I  am  here  with  him  ? 
Did  you  not  hear  the  name  of  Trevor  just  now  ?" 

"  Trevor  !  No — I  did  not  distinguish  the  name. 
What  Trevor?  Bernard  ?  Is  he  here  ?  In  trouble  ? 
About  what?  I  came  this  far  to  see  you  both,  and 
not  choosing  to  go  into  Virginia,  was  listening  to  the 
conversation  of  those  fellows,  in  hopes  to  find  some 
one  among  them  whom  I  could  trust  to  send  with  a 
request  that  you  would  both  meet  me  here." 


238  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  Here  we  botli  are,"  said  B ,  "  and  here  Tre 

vor  is  like  to  remain  for  a  while.  He  has  been 
elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  they  have  gotten  up 
a  prosecution  against  him  before  that  iniquitous 
court  of  high  commission  at  "Washington,  to  hang 
him,  if  they  can,  or  at  least  to  drive  him  off." 

"  Can  you  think  him  safe  here,"  asked  the  stranger, 
"  among  such  mercenary  wretches  as  those  we  have 
just  left?" 

"  O  yes !  You  must  not  judge  of  this  people  by 
those  muck- worms.  The  best  of  the  three  is  a  Yan 
kee  tin-pedler,  turned  merchant.  The  other  two  are 
the  worst  specimens  of  their  respective  species.  I 
dare  say  there  are  many  more  like  them,  but  there 
are  fifty  gentlemen  of  property  in  this  county  who 
would  stand  by  us;  and  are  ready,  in  their  indivi 
dual  capacity,  to  aid  us  with  purse  and  sword,  when 
ever  we  raise  our  banner." 

"But  where  is  Trevor?"  said  the  stranger.  "I 
am  impatient  to  see  him." 

"  We  will  go  to  him,"  said  B ;  "  but  first  let 

me  introduce  you  to  a  young  friend  of  ours,  whom 
you  must  receive  as  a  friend.  He  is  the  sort  of  man 
we  should  cherish,  and,  besides  that,  he  has  been  in 
trouble  on  your  account.  You  must  understand 
that  he  was  an  officer  in  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  and  incurred  the  mortal  displeasure  of  hia 
master  for  not  joining  one  of  his  minions  in  abuse  of 
you,  when  the  news  of  your  successful  negotiation 
with  the  British  Government  was  received." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  239 

Douglas  was  now  called  into  the  room,  and  intro 
duced  to  the  stranger  ;  and  the  three  gentlemen  re 
paired  together  to  the  parlor  of  Mr.  Trevor.  A 
cordial  greeting  between  the  two  friends,  and  a 
sprightly  conversation  on' various  topics,  ensued  ;  but 
at  length  the  ladies  left  the  room,  and  affairs  of  mo 
ment  came  under  discussion. 

"  I  am  come,"  said  the  stranger,  "  to  learn  your 
plans,  and  to  consult  of  the  best  means  of  affording 
such  aid  as  we  can.  When,  where,  and  how,  do  you 
mean  to  move?" 

"  We  have  carried  the  elections,"  said  B ,  "  so 

as  to  be  sure  of  a  majority  in  the  Legislature,  if  they 
can  be  freed  from  the  presence  of  the  Federal  army. 
But,  unless  that  can  be  done,  our  friends  here,  and 
many  others,  will  not  be  permitted  to  attend,  and  the 
weaker  brethren  will  be  overawed." 

"  Of  course,  then,  you  will  attempt  that.  What 
measures  do  you  propose  to  take  ?" 

"  None  that  shall  attract  observation,"  said  B . 

"  It  is  impossible,  at  this  time,  to  draw  together  any 
force  which  might  not  at  once  be  overwhelmed  by 
the  army  at  Richmond.  We  are,  therefore,  obliged 
to  lie  quiet,  and  suffer  our  people  to  see  for  them 
selves  the  advantages  they  are  losing.  They  are 
beginning  to  understand  this.  They  perceive  that 
your  commercial  arrangements  are  making  their 
neighbors  in  this  State  rich,  while  they  can  sell 
nothing  that  they  make,  and  are  obliged  to  give 
double  price  for  all  they  buy.  The  abatement  of 

3 


240  The  Partisan  Leader. 

duty  in  the  English  ports  on  your  tobacco,  and  the 
corresponding  abatement  of  your  impost  on  British 
manufactures,  is  driving  trade,  money,  and  even 
population,  to  the  South ;  and  nothing  but  separa 
tion  from  the  northern  States  can  prevent  our  whole 
tobacco  country  from  being  deserted.  This,  of  course, 
will  open  the  eyes  of  the  people  in  time,  and  we 
hope,  that  when  the  Legislature  meets,  it  may  be 
practicable  to  draw  together,  on  the  sudden,  such  a 
force  as  may  drive  the  enemy  from  Richmond,  and 
give  time  at  least  to  adjourn  to  a  place  where  they 
may  deliberate  in  safety. 

"  Is  there  any  such  place  in  the  State  ?"  asked  the 
stranger. 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  there  is  at  this  moment,  but 
such  a  one  must  be  provided  for  the  emergency, 
should  it  arise." 

"  And  what  means  do  you  propose  to  use  for  that 
purpose  ?" 

"  There  is  a  section  of  the  State,"  replied  B , 

"  where  circumstances  enable  me  to  exert  a  powerful 
influence,  and  where,  from  its  localities,  a  partisan 
corps  might  maintain  itself,  in  spite  of  the  enemy, 
and  might  give  so  decided  a  disposition  to  the  sur 
rounding  population,  as  to  establish  perfect  security 
within  a  pretty  extensive  district." 

"  But  is  there  no  danger,"  said  the  southron, 
"  that  such  a  corps  would  induce  an  increase  of  the 
force  at  Richmond  and  elsewhere,  and  so  make  the 
first  step  in  your  enterprise  more  difficult  ? " 


The  Partisan  Leader.  241 

"  It  would  have  that  effect,"  said  B ,  u  were 

not  the  scene  of  action  remote  from  Richmond,  and 
unless  the  operations  of  the  corps  were  so  conducted 
as  to  create  no  alarm  for  that  place.  Of  course, 
there  should  be  no  appearance  of  concert  with  this 
lower  country  ;  and,  so  far  from  increasing  appre 
hension  of  our  ulterior  designs,  our  failure  to  rally 
to  the  banner  of  a  successful  leader  might  disarm 
suspicion." 

"  Then  it  seems  that  all  you  want  is  a  Marion,  a 
Sumpter,  or  a  Pickens  ?" 

"  We  have  such  a  one,"  said  B ;  "  and  it  is 

well  that  you  are  here  with  us  to  aid  in  consecrating 
him  to  his  task.  Here  he  stands." 

As  he  said  this,  he  laid  his  hand,  solemnly,  gently, 
and  respectfully,  on  the  head  of  the  astonished 
Douglas. 

"  What,  I !  "  exclaimed  he.  "  For  God's  sake,  my 
dear  sir,  what  qualification  have  I  for  such  a  ser 
vice." 

"  Courage,  talent,  address,  and  military  educa 
tion,"  said  B ,  with  a  quiet  smile. 

"  And  where  should  I  find  men  willing  to  be  com 
manded  by  me,  in  an  enterprise  which,  of  course, 
supposes  the  absence  of  all  legal  authority  ?" 

"  Suppose  them  provided,"  said  B .  "  Is  there 

any  other  difficulty  to  be  removed  ?" 

"  I  should  still  be  bound  to  inquire,"  said  Dong- 
las,  "  what  good  end  is  proposed,bei£re  I  could  agree 
to  enter  on  a  course  of  conduct  which  nothing 


242  The  Partisan  Leader. 

but  the  most  important  considerations   could    ius 
tify." 

"  All  that  you  have  a  right  to  ask,  and  are  bound 
to  understand  clearly.  You  would  have  understood 
it  long  before  this,  but  that  as  long  as  one  shred 
remained  of  the  tie  that  bound  you  to  the  army  of  the 
United  States,  a  delicate  respect  to  you  imposed 
silence  on  your  uncle  and  myself.  You  now  require 
that  we  show  you  some  prevailing  reason  why  Vir 
ginia  should  detach  herself  from  the  Northern  Con 
federacy,  and  either  form  a  separate  State,  which  we 
do  not  propose,  or  unite  herself  to  the  South,  which 
we  do.  Is  not  that  your  difficulty  !  " 

"  It  is,"  replied  Douglas.  "  I  have  long  been 
sensible  that  there  were  views  of  the  subject  which 
my  situation  had  hidden  from  me,  and  have  fre 
quently  lamented  (while  I  was  grateful  for)  the  reso 
lute  reserve  which  my  friends  have  maintained.'' 

"  You  must  be  sensible,"    said  B ,  "  that  the 

southern  States,  including  Virginia,  are  properly  and 
almost  exclusively  agricultural.  The  quality  of  their 
soil  and  climate,  and  the  peculiar  character  of  their 
laboring  population,  concur  to  make  agriculture  the 
most  profitable  employment  among  them.  Apart 
from  the  influence  of  artificial  causes,  it  is  not-  cer 
tain  that  any  labor  can  be  judiciously  taken  from 
the  soil  to  be  applied  to  any  other  object  whatever. 
When  Lord  Chatham  said  that  America  ought  not 
to  manufacture  ?f  hob-nail  for  herself,  he  spoke  as  a 
true  and  judicious  friend  of  the  colonies.  The  labor 


The  Partisan  Leader.  243 

necessary  to  make  a  hob-nail,  if  applied  to  the  cul 
tivation  of  the  earth,  might  produce  that  for  which 
the  British  manufacturer  would  gladly  give  two  hob 
nails.  By  coming  between  the  manufacturer  and 
the  farmer,  and  interrupting  this  interchange  by 
perverse  legislation,  the  Government  broke  the  tie 
which  bound  the  colonies  to  the  mother  country. 

"  When  that  tie  was  severed  and  peace  established, 
it  was  the  interest  of  both  parties  that  this  interchange 
should  be  restored,  and  put  upon  such  a  footing  as 
to  enable  each,  reciprocally,  to  obtain  for  the  pro 
ducts  of  his  own  labor  as  much  as  possible  of  the 
products  of  the  labor  of  the  other. 

"  Why  was  not  this  done  ?  Because  laws  are  not 
made  for  the  benefit  of  the  people,  but  for  that  of 
their  rulers.  The  monopolizing  spirit  of  the  landed 
aristocracy  in  England  led  to  the  exclusion  of  our 
bread-stuffs,  and  the  necessities  of  the  British  trea 
sury  tempted  to  the  levying  of  enormous  revenue  from 
our  other  agricultural  products.  The  interchange 
between  the  farmer  and  manufacturer  was  thus  inter 
rupted.  In  part  it  was  absolutely  prevented ;  the 
profit  being  swallowed  up  by  the  impost,  the  induce 
ment  was  taken  away. 

"What  did  the  American  Government  under  these 
circumstances  ?  Did  they  say  to  Great  Britain,  '  relax 
your  corn-laws ;  reduce  your  duties  on  tobacco ; 
make  no  discrimination  between  our  cotton  and  that 
from  the  East  Indies ;  and  we  will  refrain  from  lay. 
ing  a  high  duty  on  your  manufactures.  You  will 


244  The   Partisan  Leader. 

thus  enrich  your  own  people,  and  it  is  by  no  means 
sure  that  their  increased  prosperity  may  not  give 
you,  through  the  excise  and  other  channels  of  reve 
nue,  more  than  an  equivalent  for  the  taxes  we  propose 
to  you  to  withdraw.' 

"  Did  we  say  this  ?  No.  And  why  ?  Because, 
in  the  northern  States,  there  was  a  manufacturing 
interest  to  be  advanced  by  the  very  course  of  legis 
lation  most  fatal  to  the  South.  With  a  dense  popu 
lation,  occupying  a  small  extent  of  barren  country, 
with  mountain  streams  tumbling  into  deep  tide 
water,  and  bringing  commerce  to  the  aid  of  manu 
factures,  they  wanted  nothing  but  a  monopoly  of  the 
southern  market  to  enable  them  to  enrich  themselves. 
The  alternative  was  before  us.  To  invite  the  great 
European  manufacturer  to  reciprocate  the  benefits  of 
free  trade,  whereby  the  South  might  enjoy  all  the 
advantages  of  its  fertile  soil  and  fine  climate,  or  to 
transfer  these  advantages  to  the  North,  by  meeting 
Great  Britain  on  the  ground  of  prohibition  and 
exaction.  The  latter  was  preferred,  because  to  the 
interest  of  that  section,  which,  having  the  local 
majority,  had  the  power. 

"  Under  this  system,  Great  Britain  has  never 
wanted  a  pretext  for  her  corn-laws,  and  her  high 
duties  on  all  our  products.  Thus  we  sell  all  we 
make,  subject  to  these  deductions,  which,  in  many 
instances,  leave  much  less  to  us  than  what  goes  into 
the  British  treasury. 

"  Here,  too,  is  the  pretext  to  the  Government  of 


The  Partisan  Leader.  245 

the  United  States  for  their  exactions  in  return.  The 
misfortune  is,  that  the  southern  planter  had  to  bear 
both  burthens.  One  half  the  price  of  his  products  is 
seized  by  the  British  Government,  and  half  the 
value  of  what  he  gets  for  the  other  half  is  seized  by 
the  Government  of  the  United  States. 

"  This  they  called  retaliation  and  indemnification. 
It  was  indemnifying  an  interest  which  had  not  been 
injured,  by  the  farther  injury  of  one  which  had  been 
injured.  It  was  impoverishing  the  South  for  the 
benefit  of  the  North,  to  requite  the  South  for  having 
been  already  impoverished  for  the  benefit  of  Gre&t 
Britain.  Still  it  was  '  indemnifying  ourselves?  Much 
virtue  in  that  word,  '  ourselves?  It  is  the  language 
used  by  the  giant  to  the  dwarf  in  the  fable  ;  the 
language  of  the  brazen  pot  to  the  earthen  pot ;  the 
language  of  all  dangerous  or  interested  friend 
ship. 

"  I  remember  seeing  an  illustration  of  this  sort  of 
indemnity  in  the  case  of  a  woman  who  was  whipt  by 
her  husband.  She  went  complaining  to  her  father, 
who  whipped  her  again,  and  sent  her  back.  '  Tell 
your  husband,'  said  he,  i  that  as  often  as  he  whips 
my  daughter,  I  will  whip  his  wife?  3: 

"  But  what  remedy  has  been  proposed  for  these 
things  ?"  asked  Douglas. 

"  A  remedy  has  been  proposed  and  applied," 

replied  B .  Ci  The  remedy  of  legislation  for  the 

benefit,  not  of  the  rulers,  but  of  the  ruled." 

"  But  in  what  sense  will  you  say  that  our  legisla- 


246  The  Partisan   Leader. 

tion  has  been  for  the  benefit  of  the  rulers  alone  ? 
Are  we  not  all  our  own  rulers  ? " 

"  Yes,"  replied  B ,  "  if  you.again  have  recourse 

to  the  use  of  that  comprehensive  word  'WE,'  which 
identifies  things  most  dissimilar,  and  binds  up,  in  the 
same  bundle,  things  most  discordant.  If  the  South 
and  North  are  one  ;  if  the  Yankee  and  the  Virginian 
are  one  ;  if  light  and  darkness,  heat  and  cold,  life 
and  death,  can  all  be  identified  ;  then  WE  are  our  own 
rulers.  Just  so,  if  the  State  will  consent  to  be  iden 
tified  with  the  Church,  then  we  pay  tithes  with  one 
Lund,  and  receive  them  with  the  other.  While  the 
Commons  identify  themselves  with  the  Crown,  SVE' 
do  but  pay  taxes  to  ourselves.  And  if  Virginians 
can  be  fooled  into  identifying  themselves  with  the 
Yankees — a  fixed  tax-paying  minority,  with  a  fixed 
tax-receiving  majority— it  will  still  be  the  same 
thing ;  and  they  will  continue  to  hold  a  distinguished 
place  among  the  innumerable  WES  that  have  been 
gulled  into  their  own  ruin  ever  since  the  world 
began.  It  is  owing  to  this  sort  of  deception,  played 
off  on  the  unthinking  multitude,  that  in  the  two 
freest  countries  in  the  world,  the  most  important 
interests  are  taxed  for  the  benefit  of  lesser  interests. 
In  England,  a  country  of  manufacturers,  they  have 
been  starved  that  agriculture  may  thrive.  In  this, 
a  country  of  farmers  and  planters,  they  have  been 
taxed  that  manufacturers  may  thrive.  Now  I  will 
requite  Lord  Chatham's  well-intentioned  declaration, 
by  saying  that  England  ought  not  to  make  a  barrel 


The  Partisan  Leader.  247 

of  flour  for  herself.  I  say,  too,  that  if  her  rulers,  and 
the  rulers  of  the  people  of  America,  were  true  to 
their  trust,  both  sayings  would  be  fulfilled.  She 
would  be  the  work-house,  and  here  would  be  the 
granary  of  the  world.  What  would  become  of  the 
Yankees  ?  As  /don't  call  them  WE,  I  leave  them  to 
find  the  answer  to  that  question." 


248  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTER    XXTIII. 

Such  is  the  aspect  of  this  shore ; 

'Tis  Greece — but  living  Greece  no  more. 

BYRON. 

THE  impression  made  on  Douglas  by  these  obser 
vations  was  so  strong  and  so  obvious,  that  his  friend 
paused  and  left  him  to  meditate  upon  them.  Some 
minutes  elapsed  before  he  made  any  reply.  When 
he  did  speak,  he  acknowledged  the  existence  and 
magnitude  of  the  grievance,  and  again  inquired, 
with  increased  solicitude,  what  remedy  had  been 
found. 

"You  heard  what  passed  in  the  bar-room,  just 
now,"  said  the  stranger. 

"I  did,"  replied  Douglas;  "and  I  was  as  much 
surprised  at  the  facts  hinted  at,  as  disgusted  at  the 
sentiments  of  the  speakers." 

"  Then  your  surprise  must  have  been  extreme," 
said  the  other ;  "  for  I  hardly  know  which  amused 
me  most :  their  unblushing  display  of  selfish  mean 
ness,  or  the  glow  of  indignation  in  your  countenance, 
which  showed  how  little  you  know  of  this  world  of 
philanthropy  and  benevolence  that  we  live  in.  But 
had  you  no  suspicion  of  the  cause  of  these  enviable 


The  Partisan  Leader.  249 

advantages  which  these  sons  of  Mammon  are  so 
anxious  to  monopolize?  " 

"  Not  at  all,  and  hence  my  surprise;  for  I  had  sup 
posed  heretofore,  that,  between  the  two  States,  all  the 
advantage  lay  on  the  side  of  Virginia." 

"  You  judge  rightly,"  replied  the  other.  "  In  the 
way  of  commerce,  nature  has  done  nothing  for  the 
one,  and  everything  for  the  other.  But  the  conversa 
tion  you  have  heard  is  a  proof  that  the  sand  which 
chokes  the  waters  of  the  Sound  is  a  trivial  obstacle,  in 
comparison  with  the  legislative  barriers  which  have 
shut  out  prosperity  from  the  noble  Chesapeake. 
Look  at  your  rivers  and  bay,  and  you  will  see  that 
Virginia  ought  to  be  the  most  prosperous  country  in 
the  world.  Look  at  the  ruins  which  strew  the  face 
of  your  lower  country,  the  remains  of  churches  and 
the  fragments  of  tombstones,  and  you  will  see  that 
she  once  was  so.  Ask  for  the  descendants  of  the 
men  whose  names  are  sculptured  on  those  monu 
ments,  and  their  present  condition  will  tell  you  that 
her  prosperity  has  passed  away.  Then  ask  all  his 
tory.  Go  to  the  finest  countries  in  the  world — to 
Asia  Minor,  to  Greece,  to  Italy ;  ask  what  has  laid 
them  desolate,  and  you  will  receive  but  one  answer, 
'  misgovernment.'  " 

"But  may  not  the  fault  be  in  the  people  them 
selves  ?  "  asked  Douglas,, 

"  The  fault  of  submitting  to  be  misgoverned,  cer 
tainly.  But  no  more  than  that.  Let  the  country 
enjoy  its  natural  advantages,  and  they  who  are  too 


250  The  Partisan  Leader. 

ignorant  or  too  slothful  to  use  them  will  soon  give 
place  to  others  of  a  different  character.  What  has 
there  been  to  prevent  the  Yankee  from  selling  his 
barren  hills  at  high  prices  and  coming  South,  where 
he  might  buy  the  fertile  shores  of  the  Chesapeake  for 
a  song  ?  No  local  attachment,  certainly ;  for  his 
home  is  everywhere.  What  is  there  now  to  prevent 
the  planter  of  this  neighborhood  from  exchanging  his 
thirsty  fields  for  the  rich  and  long  coveted  low 
grounds  of  James  Eiver,  or  Eoanoke,  in  Virginia? 
Are  these  people  wiser,  better,  more  energetic  and 
industrious  than  they  were  twelve  months  ago,  that 
their  lands  have  multiplied  in  value  five  fold  ?  Is  it 
your  uncle's  fault,  that,  were  he  now  at  home  the 
tame  slave  of  power,  he  could  hardly  give  away  his 
fine  estate  ?  The  difference  is,  that  this  country  now 
enjoys  its  natural  advantages,  while  Virginia  remains 
under  the  crushing  weight  of  a  system  devised  for  the 
benefit  of  her  oppressors." 

"  I  see  the  effect,"  said  Douglas.  "  But  tell  me,  I 
beseech  you,  the  cause  of  this  change  in  your  condi 
tion  here." 

"  The  cause  is  free  trade." 

"  And  how  has  that  been  obtained?  " 

"  I  will  answer  that,"   said  B ;   "  because  my 

friend's  modesty  might  restrain  him  from  giving  the 
true  answer.  It  has  been  <*btained  by  intelligence, 
manly  frankness,  and  fair  dealing.  It  has  been 
obtained  by  offering  to  oiher  nations  terms  most 
favorable  to  their  peculiar  and  distinctive  interests, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  251 

in  consideration  of  receiving  the  like  advantage. 
Instead  of  nursing  artificial  interests  to  rival  the  iron 
and  cotton  fabrics,  and  the  shipping  of  England,  the 
wine  of  France,  the  silk  and  oil  of  Italy,  and  enviously 
snatching  at  whatever  benefit  nature  may  have  vouch 
safed  to  other  parts  of  the  world,  this  people  only  ask 
to  exchange  for  these  things  their  own  peculiar  pro 
ductions.  A  trade  perfectly  free,  totally  discharged 
from  all  duties,  would  certainly  be  best  for  all.  But 
revenue  must  be  had,  and  the  impost  is  the  best 
source  of  revenue.  No  state  can  be  expected  to  give 
that  up.  But  it  has  been  found  practicable  so  to 
regulate  that  matter  as  to  reduce  the  charges  which 
have  heretofore  incumbered  exchanges  to  a  mere 
trifle." 

"How  has  that  been  effected?"  asked  Douglas. 

"  If  that  question  were  to  be  answered  in  detail," 

said  B ,  "  I  should  leave  the  answer  to  him  by 

whom  the  details  have  been  arranged.  I  will  give  you 
the  outline  in  a  few  words.  These  States  were  first 
driven  to  think  of  separation  by  a  tariff  of  protection. 
Their  federal  constitution  guards  against  it  by  ex 
press  prohibition,  and  by  requiring  that  the  impost, 
like  the  tax  laws  of  Virginia,  should  be  annual. 

"  They  have  felt  the  danger  to  liberty  from  exces 
sive  revenue.  Their  constitution  requires  that  the 
estimates  of  the  expense  of  the  current  year  shall  be 
made  the  measure  of  revenue  to  be  raised  for  that 
year.  The  imports  of  the  preceding  year  are  taken 
as  a  basis  of  calculation,  and  credit  being  given  for 


252  The  Partisan  Leader. 

• 

any  surplus  in  the  treasury,  a  tariff  is  laid  which,  on 
that  basis,  would  produce  the  sum  required." 

"  Then  there  never  can  be  any  surplus  for  an 
emergency,"  said  Douglas. 

"  Always,"  replied  B ;  "  in  the  right  place,  and 

the  only  safe  place — the  pockets  of  a  prosperous  pee 
pie.  There  is  no  place  in  the  treasury  to  keep  money. 
The  till  of  the  treasury  has  a  hole  in  the  bottom,  and 
the  money  always  finds  its  way  into  the  pockets  of 
sharpers,  parasites,  man-worshippers,  and  pseudo- 
patriots.  But  let  that  pass.  You  see  that  a  small 
revenue  alone  will  probably  be  wanting,  and  being 
raised  annually,  the  tariff  can  be  annually  adjusted. 

"  Now,  what  says  justice,  as  to  the  revenue  to  be 
raised  by  two  nations  on  the  trade  between  the  two, 
seeing  that  it  is  equally  levied  on  the  citizens  of  both  ?" 

"On  that  hypothesis  each  should  receive  an  equal 
share  of  it,"  said  Douglas. 

"  Precisely  so,"  answered  B ;  "  and  let  these 

terms  be  held  out  to  all  nations,  and  if  one  will  not 
accept  them  another  will.  On  this  principle  a  system 
of  commercial  arrangements  has  been  set  on  foot 
which,  by  restoring  to  these  States  the  benefit  of 
their  natural  advantages,  is  at  once  producing  an 
effect  which  explains  their  former  prosperity.  It 
places  in  stronger  relief  the  evils  of  the  opposite 
system  to  Virginia,  and  really  leaves  her,  while  she 
retains  her  present  connexion  with  the  North,  with 
out  any  resource.  Tobacco  she  cannot  sell  at  all. 
Invita  nat'iira,  she  will  have  to  raise  cotton  to  supply 


The  Partisan  Leader.  253 

the  beggared  manufactories  of  the  North,  from  which 
she  will  not  receive  in  return  the  third  part  as  much 
of  the  manufactured  article  as  the  Carolina  planter 
will  get  for  his.  This  is  her  fate.  She  sees  it,  and 
would  throw  off  the  yoke.  But  her  northern  masters 
see  it  too.  She  is  all  that  remains  to  them  of  their 
southern  dependencies,  which,  though  not  their  colo 
nies,  they  have  so  long  governed  as  colonies.  Take 
her  away,  and  they  are  in  the  condition  of  the  wolf 
when  there  are  no  sheep  left.  Wolf  eat  wolf,  and 
Yankee  cheat  Yankee.  This  they  will  guard  against 
by  all  means  lawful  and  unlawful,  for  Virginia  alone 
mitigates  the  ruin  that  their  insatiate  rapacity  has 
brought  upon  them.  They  will  hold  on  to  her  with 
the  gripe  of  death ;  and  she  must  and  will  struggle  to 
free  herself,  as  from  death. 

"  And  now,  how  say  you  ?  Are  you  prepared  to 
do  your  part  in  furtherance  of  this  object?" 

"  I  am,"  replied  Douglas  promptly ;  "  and  I  now 
eagerly  ask  you  to  show  me  the  means  by  which  I  can 
advance  it." 

"  You  asked  for  men,"  said  B ,  "  and  you  shall 

have  them.  They  are  already  provided,  and  want  but 
a  leader." 

"But  what  authority  can  I  have  to  be  recognised 
as  such  ?" 

"You  have  heard  your  uncle,  aunt,  or  cousins, 
speak  of  Jacob  Schwartz." 

"  I  believe  I  have ;  but  what  can  such  a  fellow  have 
to  do  with  such  affairs  as  we  now  speak  of.  Is  he  not 
an  ignorant  clown  ?" 


254  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  He  is  all  that,"  said  B .     "  But  he  writes  as 

good  a  hand  as  Marshal  Saxe,  and  has  probably  read 
as  many  books  as  Cincinnatus.  But  to  speak  seriously, 
he  is  no  common  clown.  I  picked  him  up,  nearly 
forty  years  ago,  a  little,  dirty,  ragged  boy,  without 
money,  without  friends,  without  education,  and  with 
out  principles.  All  these  wants  I  found  means  to 
supply,  except  that  of  education,  which  to  him  would 
be  quite  superfluous.  But  he  now  has  money  suffi 
cient,  and  friends  without  number;  and,  what  is  bet 
ter  still,  he  has  become  an  honest  man,  and  discharge? 
the  duties  of  one  none  the  worse  for  having  had  a 
pretty  large  experience  in  knavery.  Such  as  he  is,  he 
is  bound  to  me  by  gratitude,  such  as  few  men  are 
capable  of.  More  than  a  dozen  years  ago,  he  followed 
the  bent  of  early  habit,  and  retired  to  his  native 
mountains,  where  he  has  married,  and  lives  after  the 
manner  of  the  country,  as  if  he  were  worth  nothing  in 
the  world  but  his  rifle.  He  has  a  good  deal  of  money, 
which  I  manage  for  him ;  and  as  he  has  no  taste  for 
extravagance  of  any  sort,  and  is  generous  as  a  king, 
he  always  has  a  dollar  to  spare  a  friend. 

"  When  I  tell  you  that  the  people  of  that  district 
see  so  little  money  that  they  always  count  it  by  four- 
pence-half-pennies,  you  will  readily  believe  that  a 
little'  help  goes  a  great  way.  They  don't  see  that 
Schwartz  has  any  property ;  but  their  opinion  of  his 
sagacity  and  enterprise  takes  away  all  wonder  at  the 
fact,  that  he  is  always  able,  as  well  as  ready,  to  give 
aid  to  a  friend  ut  time  of  need.  You  will  of  course 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


255 


infer,  that  his  influence  among  them  is  very  great. 
Now  that,  and  all  his  faculties  of  body,  mind,  and 
purse,  are  at  my  command.  He  is  aware  of  the  state 
of  public  affairs ;  adopts  all  my  views,  as  far  as  he 
can  understand  them,  and  beyond  that  point  trusts 
me  implicitly.  It  is  through  his  instrumentality  that 
the  minds  of  the  mountaineers  of  that  district  are  pre 
pared  for  action  at  this  moment.  No  force  is  actually 
organized,  but  every  thing  is  ready  for  the  emer 
gency.  The  dispositions  of  the  people,  and  the 
strong  fastnesses  of  the  country,  will  make  it  a  secure 
retreat  to  a  partisan  corpus.  The  materials  for  such  a 
corps  may  be  found  in  part  among  the  inhabitants. 
A  nucleus  is  all  that  is  wanting,  and  to  that  all  the 
persecuted  and  distressed,  from  every  quarter,  will 
gather." 

"You  show  me,  then,"  said  Douglas,  "that  you 
already  have  all  you  want — men  and  a  leader.  Your 
friend  Schwartz  must  be  the  very  man  to  command 
those  fellows,  and  might  not  like  to  submit  to  the 
authority  of  another." 

"  He  is  not  the  man  to  command,"  said  B ,  "  be 
cause  he  could  not  keep  up  intelligence  with  other 
parts  of  the  country,  though  as  a  medium  of  intelli 
gence  there  is  none  better.  Indeed  he  cannot  be 
spared  from  that  branch  of  service.  Besides,  though 
he  might  command  his  neighbors,  you  will  be  joined 
by  men  who  will  not  submit  to  be  commanded  by 
any  but  a  gentleman.  As  to  any  reluctance  on  his 
part,  go  to  him  in  my  name,  or  in  that  of  your  uncle 


256  The  Partisan  Leader. 

or  aunt,  and  you  command  him,  body  and  soul.  You 
will  find  all  his  focilities  devoted  to  your  service, 
without  envy,  jealousy,  or  grudging ;  and  you  will  do 
well  to  use  his  mind  more  than  his  body.  In  many 
particulars  he  is  one  of  the  most  efficient  men  in  the 
world ;  and  as  he  perfectly  understands  himself,  and 
knows  what  he  is  fit  for,  you  may  always  leave  him 
to  choose  his  own  function,  and  to  execute  it  in  his 
own  way." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  257 


CHAPTEE    XXIX. 

The  heath  this  night  must  be  my  bed, 
The  bracken  curtain  for  my  head, 
My  lullaby  the  warder's  tread, 

Far,  far,  from  Love  and  thee,  Mary  1 

"I  THINK,"  said  Douglas,  "I  now  understand  your 
general  purpose,  and  the  means  to  be  placed  at  my 
disposal.  Let  me  now  know  your  plan  of  operations. 
What  am  I  to  do,  and  when  ?" 

"  The  task  I  propose  to  myself,"  replied  B ,  "  is 

one  which  requires  that  I  keep  myself  out  of  harm's 
way,  and  free  from  all  suspicion,  until  the  time  shall 
come ;  when  I  propose  to  act  a  part  which  shall 
make  me  a  conspicuous  mark  for  the  malice  or  policy 
of  our  enemies.  Hence  I  affect  to  live,  and  keep 
myself  as  much  as  possible  on  this  side  of  the  line. 
What  you  do  there  must  be  done  in  such  a  way  as  to 
indicate  no  connexion  with  me.  I  therefore  propose 
that  you  accompany  my  friend  here  to  South  Caro 
lina,  where  you  may  derive  much  benefit  from  seeing 
the  first  men  in  that  State,  with  whom  he  will  make 
you  acquainted.  From  thence  I  would  have  you 
address  letters  to  your  friends  (especially  those  in  the 
army)  so  worded  as  to  lead  them  to  attribute  youi 


258  The  Partisan  Leader. 

change  of  opinions  (which  should  be  made  to  seem 
progressive)  to  the  influence  of  these  new  associations. 
A  few  weeks  will  be  sufficient  for  this  purpose,  and 
you  may  return  to  Virginia  early  in  the  summer. 

Here,"  continued  B ,  pointing  to  a  map  which 

hung  in  the  room,  "  is  the  point  at  which  you  will 
enter  the  State,  and  here  will  be  the  principal  scene 
of  your  operations.  You  will  there  find  Schwartz, 
to  whom  you  shall  be  properly  accredited,  and  from 
whom  you  will  learn  the  resources  to  be  placed  at 
your  command,  and  the  capabilities  of  the  country. 

"  Now  observe.  Our  object  is  to  organize  a  small 
force,  under  which  the  district  may  be  protected  in 
declaring  for  the  Independence  of  Virginia,  and  pre 
pared  to  afford  a  place  of  refuge  to  the  Legislature, 
should  they  be  driven  from  Eichmond,  before  they 
have  time  to  organize  the  operations  of  the  Govern 
ment.  Of  course,  they  must  have  an  opportunity  to 
assemble  there,  if  but  for  a  day.  This  it  must  be 
our  care  to  secure,  by  a  sudden  movement  from  the 
midland  counties  on  the  southern  boundary,  and  in 
this  we  may  need  your  co-operation.  On  that  point 
we  shall  take  care  to  keep  you  advised. 

"  IsTow  our  first  object  being  to  free  Eichmond 
from  the  presence  of  the  federal  army,  at  the  moment 
the  Legislature  is  to  meet,  we  must  be  careful  to 
cause  no  alarm  for  the  safety  of  that  place.  Any 
movement  in  that  direction  would  produce  a  concen 
tration  of  force  there,  and  increase  our  difficulties. 
You  should,  therefore,  be  careful  so  to  shape  your 


The  Partisan  Leader.  259 

operations  as  rather  to  call  the  attention  of  the  enemy 
to  other  points ;  and  if  you  can  make  them  of  suffi 
cient  importance  to  draw  detachments  from  Kichmond, 
a  double  purpose  will  be  answered.  You  will  have 
no  cause  to  fear  any  force  that  can  be  brought  against 
you.  Your  field  of  operations  affords  situations  which 
may  defy  assault,  and,  the  line  of  North  Carolina 
being  at  your  back,  you  may,  at  any  moment,  cross 
it  and  disband  for  a  time. 

"  But  I  am  not  sure  whether  our  end  may  not  be 
answered  best  by  giving  to  all  your  operations  such 
a  character  as  may  exclude  the  idea  of  any  political 
object.  As  none  of  those  who  are  conspicuous  as 
malcontents  in  the  lower  country  will  join  you,  this 
deception  will  not  be  difficult.  In  beating  up  the 
quarters  of  the  troops  near  you,  you  may  seem  to  act 
but  in  self  defence ;  and  should  you  extend  your 
blow  so  far  as  Lynchburg,  your  mountaineers  will 
hardly  fail  to  levy  such  contributions  on  the  camp- 
followers  and  Yankee  pedlars  there  (who  call  them 
selves  merchants),  as  to  give  the  measure  the  appear 
ance  of  a  mere  marauding  expedition." 

"I  am  not  so  very  sure,"  replied  Douglas,  "that 
I  should  like  to  mix  my  little  reputation  as  a  soldier 
and  a  gentleman  with  an  affair  of  that  sort." 

"I  am  not  suggesting  anything  contrary  to  the 

laws  of  war,"  said  B .     "  The  violation  of  them 

would  be  but  in  appearance.  Care  would  be  taken 
to  indemnify  any  who  might  be  wronged,  whenever 
it  shall  be  expedient  for  you  to  throw  off  the  mask. 


260  The  Partisan  Leadei 

As  to  any  temporary  misconstruction,  your  name 
would  connect  you  with  your  uncle,  and,  through 
him,  with  me  and  all  our  friends ;  and  moreover, 
would  whet  the  malice  of  your  worthy  friends,  the 
Bakers,  who  would  move  heaven  and  earth  to  circum 
vent  you.  Better,  therefore,  to  drop  the  last  name. 
Archibald  Douglas  is  name  enough  to  satisfy  the  ambi 
tion  of  any  reasonable  man,  at  least  until  he  can  cap  it 
with  a  yet  more  honorable  addition,  if  that  be  possible." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  there  was 
some  appearance  of  embarrassment  about  Douglas, 
which  did  not  escape  the  observation  of  his  uncle. 
At  length  he  said  to  him,  in  an  under  tone,  that, 
before  carrying  the  matter  under  discussion  any  far 
ther,  he  would  be  glad  to  have  a  few  words  with  him 
in  private. 

"  I  understand  your  wish,"  said  the  old  gentleman, 
aloud ;  "  it  shall  be  indulged." 

"  I  suspect  you  mistake  me,"  said  Douglas,  coloring 
very  high. 

"Not  at  all,"  replied  the  other.  "You  only 
suppose  so  because  you  do  not  know  that  one 
of  my  friends  here  received  his  wife  in  marriage 
at  my  hands,  and  that  the  other  stood  father  to 
mine.  Hence  I  have  no  such  reserves  with  them 
as  you  may  suppose.  Now,  do  I  understand  you  ?" 

"  I  dare  say  you  do,"  replied  Douglas,  blushing 
yet  more  deeply. 

"  Then  I  say,  again,  your  wish  shall  be  indulged. 
You  shall  not  leave  us  until  you  are  fully  established 


The  Partisan  Leader.  261 

in  all  the  rights  which  it  is  mine  to  confer.  But  you 
must  suppress  your  raptures  until  you  hear  the  con 
ditions.  Our  plan  requires  secrecy,  and,  above  all, 
that  there  should  be  no  appearance  of  concert  between 
you  and  us,  and  no  cause  to  suspect  it.  This  thing, 
therefore,  must  be  absolutely  private ;  no  witnesses 
but  those  here  present,  and  your  aunt,  and  Lucia ;  and 
in  the  next  moment  your  foot  must  be  in  the  stirrup. 
Are  you  content  ?  " 

"  Content !  "  said  Douglas.  a  Indeed  I  am  not ; 
but  I  see  that  you  are  acting  upon  a  concerted  plan, 
and  that  all  expostulation  must  be  vain.  Let  me  at 
least  see  Delia  now." 

"  I  suspect  she  has  gone  to  bed,"  said  Mr.  T . 

"  Retired !  I  believe  is  the  word  introduced  by  our 
Yankee  school-mistresses,  whose  prurient  imagina 
tions  are  shocked  at  the  name  of  a  bed.  Poor  girl, 
she  was  glad  to  retire,  in  the  plain  English  sense  of 
the  word,  as  soon  as  we  got  here,  and,  I  dare  say,  has 
been  in  bed  half  an  hour.  She  and  your  aunt  were 
on  active  service  all  last  night,  while  you  were  keep 
ing  a  snoring  watch  over  our  friend  Whiting.  Come, 
my  boy !  You  shall  not  infect  her  with  the  fever  of 
your  brain  to-night.  If  you  cannot  sleep,  it  is  no 
reason  why  she  should  not.  And  now  let  us  turn 
again  to  other  matters." 

"  The  next  question,  then,"  said  the  southron,  "  is 
how  we  can  aid  you  ?  By  sword,  or  tongue,  or  pen, 
or  purse  ?  " 

"  By  purse  as  much  as  you  please,"  said  B . 


262  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  Our  young  friend  here  will  need  a  small  military 
chest,  which  we  have  no  means  of  filling.  As  to  the 
rest,  keep  out  of  the  scrape.  We  wish  to  join  you 
in  peace,  and  then  remain  at  peace,  which  will  not 
be,  if  you  strike  a  blow  in  our  behalf  now.  As  much 
individual  aid  as  you  please  to  our  rendezvous  just 
before  the  first  Monday  in  December.  A  thousand 
independent  volunteers,  pour  le  coup,  would  be  wel 
come.  In  the  meantime,  if  you  can  send  our  young 
friend  here  a  promising  young  officer  from  your 
military  school,  to  be  his  second  in  command,  it  is 
all  we  would  ask.  Of  course  he  will  come  as  of  his 
own  head,  for  you  must  not  seem  to  have  anything 
to  do  with  the  matter." 

Many  other  topics  connected  with  our  subject  were 
discussed,  but  I  deem  it  unadvisable  to  speak  of 
more  than  is  necessary  to  explain  the  subsequent 
situation  of  the  parties.  When  they  met  again  at 
breakfast,  the  swimming  eye  and  changing  cheek  of 
Delia  told  that  she  had  been,  made  acquainted  with 
all  that  had  passed.  The  countenance  of  Douglas 
beamed  with  high  excitement,  at  once  pleasant  and 
painful.  A  glance  of  triumphant  encouragement  to 
Delia,  and  her  answering  tearful  smile,  showed  that 
they  perfectlv  understood  each  other.  Indeed,  it  was 

time  they  should,  for  it  had  been  settled  that  B , 

who  was  a  resident  and  justice  of  the  peace  of  the 
county,  should  perform  the  marriage  ceremony,  ac 
cording  to  the  unceremonious  law  of  North  Carolina, 
immediately  after  breakfast. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  263 

As  soon  as  it  was  over,  they  adjourned  to  the  par 
lor,  where  B ,  drawing  Delia  to  him,  seated  her 

on  his  knee.  "  I  don't  half  like  this  business,"  said 
he.  "  I  have  no  mind  to  take  an  active  part  in  giv 
ing  up  my  own  little  girl  to  this  young  fellow.  I 
am  too  old  to  think  of  loving  and  fighting  all  in  a 
breath,  as  he  does,  and  I  thought  to  wait  till  the  wars 
were  over,  and  here  he  comes  and  cuts  me  out.  But 
I  am  determined  to  do  nothing  in  prejudice  of  my 
claim,  until  I  find  that  I  have  no  chance.  Young 
man,"  added  he,  in  a  tone  gradually  changing  from 
playful  to  serious,  "  do  you  love  this  dear  girl  with 
that  faithful,  single-hearted  love,  which  man  owes  to 
a  woman  who  gives  him  all  her  heart,  and  entrusts 
to  him  all  her  happiness,  and  all  her  hopes?  " 

As  he  said  this  he  took  the  hand  of  Douglas,  and 
went  on:  "Do  you  thus  love  her,  and  will  you  in 
good  faith  manifest  this  love,  by  being  to  her  a  true 
and  devoted  husband,  in  every  change  and  vicissitude 
of  life,  so  long  as  life  shall  last  ?  Answer  me,  Doug 
las,"  he  continued,  with  a  voice  approaching  to 
sternness,  and  a  fixed  and  searching  look,  while  he 
strongly  grasped  the  young  man's  hand. 

"  Assuredly  I  will,"  said  Douglas,  somewhat  hurt. 

"  And  you,  dear,"  said  B ,  resuming  his  kind 

and  playful  tone,  "  do  you  love  this  young  fellow  in 
like  sort,  and  will  you,  on  your  part,  be  to  him  thus 
faithful  as  his  wife  ?  " 

While  B said- this  the  blushing  Delia  tried  to 

disengage  herself.     But  he  detained  her,  and  caught 

4 


The  Partisan  Leader. 

the  hand  with  which  she  endeavored  to  loosen  hig 
from  her  waist,  and  held  it  fast.  At  length  she  hid 
her  face  on  his  neck,  whispering  : 

"  You  know  I  do.     You  know  I  will. 

"  Then  God  bless  you,  my  children,"  said  B , 

bringing  their  hands  together  and  grasping  both 
firmly  in  one  of  his ;  "  for  you  are  married  as  fast  as 
the  law  can  tie  you." 

In  a  moment  the  whole  party  were  on  their  feet, 
each  expressing  a  different  variety  of  surprise.  Doug 
las  was  the  first  to  understand  his  situation  fully,  as 
appeared  by  his  springing  forward  and  catching  his 
bride  to  his  bosom,  imprinting  on  her  pure  cheek  the 
kiss  that  holy  nature  prompts,  and  that  all  the  ca 
prices  of  fashion  (thank  God !)  can  never  shame. 
From  him  she  escaped  into  the  arms  of  her  mother, 
who,  caressing  her  with  murmured  tenderness,  looked 

half  reproachfully  at  B .  Then  smiling  through 

the  tear  that  filled  her  large  blue  eye,  she  shook  her 
finger  at  him,  and  said,  "  Just  like  you  !  Just  like 
you!" 

"  Fairly  cheated  you  of  your  scene,  Margaret. 
All  the  matronly  airs,  and  maidenly  airs,  that  you 
and  Delia  have  been  rehearsing  this  morning,  gone 
for  nothing.  And  there  is  dear  little  Lucia  crying 
as  if  to  break  her  heart,  because  sister  Delia  was 
married  before  she  could  fix  her  pretty  little  face 
for  the  occasion.  Never  mind,  dear  !  When  your 
turn  comes  there  will  be  less  hurry,  and  you  shall 
have  a  ceremony  as  long  as  the  whole  liturgy.  "Well, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  265 

Douglas,  you  will  not  quarrel  with  me,  I  am  sure ; 
and  I  think  Delia  will  forgive  me  for  the  trick  I 
played  her.  You  have  but  an  hour  to  stay  together, 
and  where  was  the  sense  of  giving  that  up  to  the 
flutter  and  agitation  of  a  deferred  ceremony  ?  I  sus 
pect  if  I  were  always  to  manage  the  matter  in  this 
way,  I  should  have  my  hands  as  full  of  business  as 
the  dentist  that  used  to  conjure  people's  teeth  out  of 
their  mouths  without  their  knowing  it,  while  he  was 
pretending  just  to  fix  his  instrument.  But  go,  my 
children.  Empty  your  full  hearts  into  each  other's 
bosoms,  and  thank  me  for  the  privilege." 


266  The  Partisan  Leader 


CHAPTEK   XXX. 

Gathering  tears  and  tremblings  of  distress ; 

And  cheeks  all  pale,  which,  but  an  hour  ago, 
Blushed  at  the  praise  of  their  own  loveliness : 
And  there  were  sudden  partings,  such  as  press 
The  life  from  out  young  hearts,  and  choking  sighs, 
Which  ne'er  might  be  repeated :  Who  could  guess 
If  ever  more  should  meet  those  mutual  eyes  ? 

BYRON. 

AND  so  it  was.  I  can  add  nothing  to  the  language 
of  the  poet.  I  can  supply  nothing  to  the  imagina 
tion  'of  the  reader.  Thus  Douglas  and  Delia  parted. 
Be  accompanied  his  new  acquaintance  to  the  south 
ern  capital ;  he  there  met  with  men  whose  names 
live  and  will  live  in  the  history  of  their  country,  and 
whose  memories  will  be  honored  while  virtue  is  held 
in  reverence  among  men.  From  these,  and  especially 
from  the  accomplished  gentleman  to  whose  friend 
ship  he  had  been  introduced  by  his  uncle  and  Mr. 

B ,  he  received  such  lights  as  dispelled  every 

shadow  of  doubt  from  his  mind.  The  wrongs  of 
Virginia,  her  rights  and  her  remedies,  became  the 
subject  of  all  his  thoughts,  and  he  burned  with 
impatience  for  the  time  when  he  might  draw  his 
sword  on  her  behalf,  and  turn  to  her  use,  as  he  had 


The  Partisan  Leader.  267 

expressed  it,  the  lessons  learned  in  the  school  of  her 
oppressors. 

That  time  at  length  arrived.  Returning  by  the 
upper  road  which  skirts  the  foot  of  the  mountains, 
he  re-entered  Virginia  nearly  at  the  spot  to  which 
his  brother  had  gone  in  quest  of  him.  There,  as  he 
had  been  taught  to  expect,  he  found  Schwartz, 
whose  reception  of  him  fully  justified  the  assurances 

of  B .  To  that  gentleman  he  showed  unbounded 

devotion,  delighted  to  speak  of  favors  received  at 
his  hands,  and  of  "  moving  accidents  by  flood  and 
field,"  which  they  had  encountered  together.  Next 
to  B ,  in  his  estimation,  stood  Mrs.  Trevor ;  then- 
Delia,  for  whom  when  a  child  he  had  formed  a  pas 
sionate  attachment;  and  last,  Mr.  Trevor  himself, 
whom,  after  the  rest,  he  respected  and  admired 

above  all  human  beings.  A  hint  from  B that 

Douglas  was  the  husband  of  Delia  placed  him  at 
once  in  the  same  catalogue  of  worthies,  and  from 
the  first  moment  he  devoted  himself  not  less  to  his 
personal  service  than  to  the  advancement  of  the 
common  cause.  He  had  already  organized  a  small 
corps,  the  command  of  which  he  unreservedly  sur 
rendered,  making  it  his  constant  study  to  recom 
mend  the  new  commander  to  the  confidence  of  the 
men. 

No  man  could  deserve  it  better,  or  was  better 
qualified  to  win  it.  Frank,  affable,  generous,  and 
kind,  his  deportment  was  marked  by  that  self- 
respectful  courtesy  which  has  all  the  goerd  effect  of 


268  .  The  Partisan  Leader. 

dignity,  without  ever  passing  by  that  name.  "With 
nothing  repulsive,  austere,  or  cold  in  his  demeanor, 
he  was  a  man  whose  orders  no  soldier  would  ques 
tion,  whose  displeasure  no  gentleman  would  choose 
to  incur,  whose  feelings  no  friend,  however  careless, 
would  wound.  Liberally  supplied  with  money  by 
his  southern  friends,  and  instructed  by  Schwartz  in 
the  judicious  use  of  it,  he  took  effectual  measures  to 
prevent  distress  in  the  families  of  his  followers.  A 
small  sum  amply  satisfied  their  simple  wants,  and 
his  men  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  their 
families  suffered  nothing  by  their  absence  from  their 
little  farms. 

Beside  the  small  embodied  corps  I  have  men 
tioned,  the  whole  population  of  that  warlike  district 
were  placed  under  a  sort  of  organization,  so  that, 
while  they  pursued  their  occupations  of  hunting  or 
farming,  they  were  prepared,  at  any  moment,  to  join 
an  expedition  or  to  resist  an  attack. 

Schwartz,  who  knew  the  country,  inch  by  inch, 
made  Douglas  acquainted  with  all  its  strengths  and 
all  its  passes,  so  that  he  soon  became  an  expert 
woodsman,  and  an  active  mountaineer.  His  first 
care  was  to  select  a  place  for  a  stationary  camp. 
For  this  purpose  he  chose  a  position  strong  by 
nature,  which  he  made  nearly  impregnable.  He 
aext  provided  horses  enough  to  mount  a  part  of  his 
corps.  For  these  the  rich  herbage  of  the  mountains 
afforded  abundant  subsistence  during  the  summer 
months.  Of  ammunition  there  was  no  stint.  The 


The  Partisan  Leader.  269 

lead  mines  were  just  at  his  back,  beyond  the  Alleg- 
hanny.  Powder  is  made  of  good  quality  in  all  that 
region,  and  the  quantity  necessary  for  the  rifle  is  so 
small,  that  the  rifleman  may  be  said  to  carry  a  hun 
dred  lives  in  his  powder-horn.  Of  provisions  he  had 
plenty,  though  wanting  many  things  deemed  neces 
sary  in  a  regular  army.  But  the  pure  air  of  the 
mountains,  and  the  exercise  of  hunting  and  scouting, 
preserved  the  health  of  the  men,  without  tents,  or 
salt,  or  vinegar,  or  vegetables  of  any  kind.  Venison 
and  beef,  dried  in  the  sun,  or  over  the  fire  by  the 
process  called  jerking,  was  prepared  in  the  season 
of  abundance  for  winter  use,  and  proved  the  best 
sort  of  food  for  a  marauding  corps.  Light,  compact, 
and  nutritious,  there  is  no  diet  on  which  a  man  can 
travel  so  far  or  fight  so  hard. 

Nothing  now  remained  but  to  make  his  enemy 
feel  him.  Stooping  from  his  mountain  fastness,  he 
soon  broke  up  all  the  military  posts  in  the  adjacent 
counties ;  so  that,  in  a  few  weeks,  not  a  blue-coat 
was  to  be  seen  on  the  south  side  of  Staunton  river, 
Freed  from  the  presence  of  their  enemy,  the  people 
were  found  ready  to  rise  en  masse.  He  dissuaded 
them  from  doing  more  than  to  put  themselves  in 
readiness  for  action,  to  furnish  him  needed  supplies, 
for  which  he  paid  fairly,  and  to  give  him  notice  of 
the  approach  of  the  enemy.  For  this  purpose  he 
established  a  sort  of  half  military  organization,  and 
had  it  in  his  power  to  increase  his  little  force  to  five 
times  its  number  in  a  few  days.  His  strength  being 


270  The  Partisan  Leader. 

•thus  adapted  to  any  occasion  which  could  he 
expected  to  offer,  after  sweeping  away  the  enemy 
from  the  south  side  of  the  river,  he  proceeded  to 
hreak  up  the  posts  in  the  counties  on  the  northern 
bank.  In  the  end,  though  the  enemy  were  nomi 
nally  in  possession  of  all  the  country  between  James 
river  and  Roanoke,  they  held  no  post  higher  than 
Lynchburg,  nor  any  farther  south  than  Farmville. 
Above  this  last  place,  their  scouts  and  foraging  par 
ties  showed  themselves  occasionally,  but  never  ven 
tured  to  leave  the  banks  of  James  river  for  more 
than  a  single  night. 

At  Lynchburg,  not  long  before  the  time  at  which 
our  story  commences,  two  companies  had  been 
posted.  As  Douglas  had  never  shown  a  force  of 
more  than  a  hundred  men,  no  fear  of  an  attack  on 
that  point  was  entertained.  But  suddenly  collecting 
a  number  of  auxiliaries,  he  struck  at  them,  drove 
them  from  their  post,  enriched  his  men  with  every 
thing  that  the  laws  of  war  permitted  him  to  seize, 
and  retreated  to  his  stronghold  in  the  mountains. 
The  supplies  of  arms,  ammunition,  clothing,  and 
blankets,  thus  procured,  put  him  in  condition  to 
increase  his  corps,  if  necessary.  Thus,  at  the  time 
of  which  we  speak,  having  little  more  than  a  hun 
dred  men  embodied,  he  could  have  marched  five 
times  that  number  to  Richmond;  and,  for  any  service 
near  at  hand,  could  have  commanded  a  yet  larger 
force.  Though  unprovided  with  many  of  the  con 
veniences  of  military  life,  they  were  not  deficient  in 


The  Partisan  Leader.  271 

essentials.  There  was  "  not  a  bit  of  feather  in  his 
host,"  nor  drum,  nor  trumpet,  nor  banner.  But 
there  were  stout  hearts,  and  strong  hands,  and  fleet 
limbs,  and  good  rifles,  and  knives  and  tomahawks  ; 
and  that  system  and  harmony  which  spring  from  a 
sense  of  danger,  a  high  purpose,  and  confidence  in 
a  leader.  To  the  listening  ear,  a  whisper  speaks 
louder  than  a  trumpet  to  the  heedless.  To  the 
trusting  heart,  the  chieftain's  voice  supersedes  the 
spirit-stirring  drum. 

While  Douglas  thus  maintained  his  position  among 
the  mountains,  it  became  a  sort  of  Cave  of  Adullam. 
His  little  corps  was  a  nucleus  to  which  the  discon 
tented  and  persecuted  gathered  continually.  His 
embodied  force  was  increased,  while  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  neighboring  population  became  more 
perfect,  their  confidence  firmer,  their  zeal  more  ardent. 
So  effectually  had  he  broken  the  power  of  the  Central 
Government  in  that  quarter,  that  it  had  been  deemed 
expedient  to  throw  a  much  larger  federal  force  into 
Lynchburg,  to  curb  his  progress  in  that  direction,  and 
to  restrain  the  disaffected  in  the  counties  along  the 
north  bank  of  James  river.  Could  he  have  co 
operated  with  the  friends  of  Virginia  there,  it  was  not 
clear  that  the  flame  might  not  spread  on  and  on,  in 
the  direction  of  Washington,  until  the  very  seat  of 
empire  might  be  unsafe.  Hence  a  regiment  had  been 
detached  from  the  army  at  Richmond,  and  another 
from  the  North,  originally  destined  for  that  place,  was 
turned  aside  to  Lynchburg.  Aware  of  these  move- 

4* 


272  The  Partisan  Leader. 

ments,  Douglas  had  no  doubt  that  the  purpose  of  such 
an  assemblage  of  force  was  not  merely  preventive. 
He  saw  that  attempts  would  be  made  to  recover  the 
ground  which  the  enemy  had  lost  on  the  south  side  of 
James  river ;  and  that,  by  remaining  strictly  on  the 
defensive,  he  might  be  forced  to  withdraw  his  em 
bodied  force  to  their  mountain  stronghold,  and  not 
only  lose  the  aid  of  his  irregulars,  but  give  them  up 
to  the  vengeance  of  the  enemy.  Under  these  circum 
stances,  attack  was  the  most  effectual  form  of  defence, 
and  boldness  was  true  prudence. 

The  time,  too,  was  at  hand  for  the  decisive  move 
ment,  in  the  lower  counties,  for  the  relief  of  Rich 
mond.  The  desired  diversion  had  been  effected,  and 
Douglas  found  himself  capable  of  bringing  into  the 
field  a  force,  the  presence  of  which  would  be  no  incon 
siderable  aid  to  that  about  to  assemble  below.  To 
strike  at  his  enemy  therefore,  to  overwhelm  him  if 
possible,  and,  if  not,  to  elude  him  and  fall  down  to 

the  assistance  of  B ,  seemed  to  be  the  surest  plan  for 

preserving  the  safety  and  independence  even  of  the 
mountain  region.  If  successful,  every  desirable  end 
would  be  accomplished.  Even  should  he  fail,  his 
duty  to  the  faithful  yeomanry  and  peasantry  of  that 
devoted  section,  was  rather  to  draw  the  enemy  away 
after  him  toward  Richmond,  than  by  falling  directly 
back,  or  even  by  remaining  where  he  was,  to  invite 
them  to  overrun  the  country  which  had  afforded  him 
such  zealous  and  efficient  co-operation. 

Influenced    by  these    considerations,  Douglas  had 


The  Partisan  Leader.  273 

despatched  Schwartz  to  lay  them  before  B ,  and 

receive  his  instructions.  He  had  long  ago  recognised 
him  as  the  person  of  whom  his  aunt  had  said  that 
"  the  destiny  of  Virginia  depended  on  him."  He  had 
received  at  his  hands  the  sort  of  authority  which  he 
wielded,  now  indeed  by  his  own  personal  influence 
and  character,  but  originally  as  the  trusted  represen 
tative  of  B .  He  had  no  mind  to  shake  off  that 

character.  He  had  seen  that,  by  means  not  exactly 
understood,  that  gentleman  commanded  resources, 
both  at  home  and  abroad,  which  enabled  him  to 
meditate  plans,  in  which  all  the  operations  of 
Douglas's  corps,  however  brilliant,  were  but  circum 
stances  of  less  importance  themselves  than  in  their 
relations. 

Schwartz  was  the  sole  medium  of  communication 
between  the  two.  "With  nothing  in  his  appearance  to 
attract  attention — nothing  in  his  manners  or  common 
style  of  conversation  betokening  powders  superior  to 
those  of  any  other  peasant— his  intelligence  and 
fidelity  supplied  the  place  of  letters.  He  understood 
every  thing,  and  forgot  nothing  that  was  said  to  him. 
He  therefore  carried  no  papers,  and  passed  unsus 
pected  through  the  country,  amusing  with  the  most 
harmless  gossip,  all  he  chanced  to  fall  in  with.  lie 
was  a  man  who  knew  how  to  have  business  any 
where,  and  at  any  moment ;  and  he  passed  along 
more  like  a  sparrow  hopping  from  twig  to  twig, 
pecking  at  a  berry  here  and  a  leaf  there,  and  never 
seeming  to  have  an  ulterior  object,  than  with  the 


274  The  Partisan  Leader. 

strong-winged  flight  which   indicates  a   distant  and 
important  destination. 

In  one  of  Arthur's  visits  to  Lucia  (his  betrothal  to 
whom  was  no  longer  a  secret  in  her  father's  family), 
he  was  made  acquainted  with  the  history  of  Douglas's 
marriage.  He  was  also  entrusted  with  the  important 
information  that  the  gallant  "leader,  with  whose  ex 
ploits  the  country  rung,  and  whom  his  imagination 
had  endued  with  almost  superhuman  powers,  was  his 
own  best  beloved  brother.  He  was  instantly  on  fire 
to  join  him,  and  Schwartz  was  instructed  to  convey 
to  him  the  necessary  intelligence ;  and,  if  possible,  to 
fall  in  with  him  on  the  way.  But  he  had  been 
turned  aside  by  objects  of  higher  moment  on  his 
return  and  Arthur  had  got  ahead  of  him.  Having 
ascertained  this  fact  in  the  county  of  Charlotte,  when; 
their  roads  came  together,  Schwartz  travelled  hard  to 
overtake  him  ;  left  his  tired  horse  at  the  entrance  of 
the  defile,  and,  following  on  foot,  came  up  with  him  as 
we  have  seen. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  275 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

It  is,  that  she  will  cherish  the  renown 

Of  noble  deeds,  achieved  her  name  to  grace ; 

And  prize  the  heart  that  beat  for  her  alone, 
In  Glory's  triumph,  or  in  Death's  embrace. 

ANONYMOUS. 

LET  us  now  return  to  the  deep  glen,  at  the  bottom 
of  which  we  left  our  friend  Arthur,  accompanied  by 
his  mountain  guide.  Schwartz  was  welcomed  with 
cordial  joy  by  his  comrades,  and,  having  asked  for 
the  Captain,  was  told  he  was  in  his  tent.  Arthur 
looked  around  in  vain  for  a  tent,  but  saw  none. 
The  beetling  crags  .on  both  sides  of  the  dell  seemed 
to  be  the  only  shelter  that  the  place  afforded.  But 
against  the  rock,  a  hundred  yards  below,  and 
directly  beneath  the  spot  from  which  Schwartz  had 
given  notice  of  his  presence,  hung  a  piece  of  tent- 
cloth.  One  edge  of  this  was  tacked  to  a  pole  which 
lay  horizontally  against  the  rocky  wall,  the  ends 
being  supported  by  forks  about  ten  feet  long.  This 
proved  to  be  a  sort  of  door  to  a  wide-mouthed 
cavernous  recess  in  the  rock,  deep  enough  to  afford 
room  for  the  few  little  conveniences  which  an  officer 
can  expect  to  keep  about  him  in  active  service. 


276  The  Partisan  Leader. 

Approaching  this,  Schwartz  lifted  the  corner,  and 
our  travellers  stood  in  the  presence  of  Douglas. 

He  was  seated  at  a  coarse  table,  poring  over  a 
rude  manuscript  map,  and  did  not  lift  his  head  until 
he  heard  the  word  "  brother"  uttered  by  the  well- 
known  voice  of  Arthur.  In  a  moment  they  were  in 
each  other's  arms,  and,  in  the  next,  the  new-coiner 
was  overwhelmed  with  questions  about  his  father, 
mother,  and  various  friends.  Some  indeed  were  not 
named ;  for,  though  Schwartz  was  in  the  secret  of 
the  fact,  he  was  incapable  of  being  let  into  the 
deeper  mystery  of  hearts  like  those  of  Douglas  and 
Delia.  To  such  the  utterance  of  a  beloved  name  in 
the  presence  of  the  uninitiated  is  an  unpardonable 
profanation.  But  though  that  of  Delia  was  not 
spoken,  Arthur  took  care  so  to  emphasize  his  account 
of  the  health  of  his  uncle's  family,  as  to  convey  to 
the  mind  of  Douglas  an  assurance  of  all  he  wished 
to  hear.  But  if  Schwartz  was  not  deep  in  the  ten 
der  mysteries  of  refined  and  delicate  love,  no  man 
better  understood  a  hint,  or  better  knew  how  to 
improve  it.  He  accordingly  interrupted  the  con 
versation,  just  to  say  that  he  brought  important 
intelligence,  which  must  be  communicated  that 
night ;  adding  that  he  would  leave  them  together  for 
an  hour.  He  now  withdrew,  and  afforded  the 
desired  opportunity  for  unreserved  conversation. 

"My  Delia,"  said  Douglas;  "I  understand  that 
she  is  well,  and,  I  hope,  happy." 

"She  is  happy,"  said   Arthur.      "She  hears  of 


The  Partisan  Leader.  277 

you,  from  the  impartial  voice  of  public  fame,  in 
terms  that  fill  her  heart  with  pride,  and  leave  no 
room  there  for  alarm  or  melancholy.  She  feels  as 
becomes  a  soldier's  wife,  anxious  for  her  husband's 
fate,  but  confident  in  his  fortunes.  She  has  caught 

this  notion  from  Mr.  B ,  who  is  her  oracle,  and 

who  seems  to  have  imparted  to  her,  not  only  all  his 
sentiments,  but  all  the  energy  and  buoyancy  of  his 
self-confident  mind." 

"Thank  God!"  said  Douglas.  "Just  so  would 
I  have  her  to  be.  I  knew  it  would  be  so.  I  saw 
her  noble  mother,  when  danger  threatened  my 
uncle  ;  and  I  saw  her  too.  But  this  is  the  first  posi 
tive  information,  on  that  point,  that  has  reached  me 
since  I  have  been  here.  Mr.  B —  -  and  I  can  only 
correspond  by  messages  through  Schwartz,  and 
though  he  is  plain  and  accurate  as  a  printed  book  in 
repeating  what  he  understands,  yet  ideas  of  this  sort 
are  not  in  his  line.  And  my  good  and  venerable 
old  father — are  you  here  with  his  permission  ?" 

"  I  am  not ;  nor  does  he  know  where  I  am.  I 
have  no  doubt  that  I  should  have  his  approbation  if 
he  did.  I  am  sure  you  have.'' 

"  I !"  exclaimed  Douglas,  with  a  start  of  violent 
surprise.  "What  does  he  know  of  me?" 

"Nothing  at  all,"  said  Arthur,  smiling.  "But  he 
knows  of  a  certain  partisan  leader,  whom  the  world 
calls  Captain  Douglas,  and  if  I  can  read  the  old 
man's  eyes,  when  he  hears  that  name,  he  would 
rather  call  that  man  his  son  than  any  other  on  earth." 


278  The  Partisan  Leader. 

As  Arthur  spoke  the  eyes  of  Douglas  filled,  and, 
pressing  his  hand  to  his  brow,  he  bowed  his  head  a 
moment  on  the  table.  Then  rising,  he  stood  erect, 
and  looking  up  with  a  rapt  and  abstracted  air,  his 
eye  flashing  through  his  tears,  he  folded  his  arms, 
and  speaking  in  the  measured  tone  of  one  who  feels 
deeply,  but  in  whose  mind  thought  masters  feeling, 
he  parodied  that  noble  speech  which  Shakspeare 
puts  in  the  mouth  of  Prince  Henry: 

"  Then  in  the  closing  of  some  glorious  day, 
"When  I  shall  wear  a  garment  all  of  blood, 
And  stain  my  favors  with  a  bloody  mask, 
I  will  be  bold  to  tell  him,  '  I  am  your  son.'  " 

"  And  my  Delia ! — my  virgin  bride  !  O  !  for  that 
day, 

"  When  woman's  pure  kiss,  sweet  and  long, 
Welcomes  her  warrior  home." 

"  I  tell  you,  Arthur,  that,  in  thoughts  like  these, 
there  is  a  rapture  which  makes  this  hole  in  the  rock 
a  palace,  and  this  flinty  couch  a  bed  of  down.  Are 
you  prepared,  my  dear  fellow,  to  partake  with  me  in 
such  feelings?  That,  I  know,  depends  in  part  on 
Lucia.  What  of  her?" 

"  She  is  to  me,"  said  Arthur,  "  all  that  Delia  is 
to  yon  ;  though  she  is  too  young  to  have  the  same 
strength  of  mind,  and  I  have  no  right  to  expect  the 
Bame  confidence  in  my  prowess  and  fortunes." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  279 

"  Never  fear.  It  will  not  Dfc  wanting  at  the  pinch. 
A  woman  never  fears  for  the  safety  of  him  she 
loves  but  when  she  doubts  his  truth.  Let  her  feel 
that  she  is  his  second  self,  and  self-confidence  calnib 
her  fears.  Let  her  feel  that  she  lives  in  his  heart, 
and,  strong  in  love,  she  defies  the  dagger  which  as 
sails  it.  Calpurnia  trembled  for  Csesar.  Why? 
He  was  the  husband  of  every  woman  in  Rome. 
Had  he  been  true  to  her,  she  would  have  felt  only 
that  prudent  fear  that  he  would  not  have  derided. 
He  would,  perhaps,  have  yielded  to  her  discreet 
remonstrance,  and  her  love  would  have  justified  the 
confidence  which  characterizes  the  love  of  woman, 
by  saving  his  life.  But,  what  a  rhapsody  I  am 
uttering !  You  say  my  father  does  not  know  where 
you  are  ?  How  is  that  ?" 

"  I  was  not  at  liberty  to  acquaint  him  with  your 
secret.  Your  absence  has  drawn  on  him  some  dis 
pleasure  from  those  in  power,  and  their  minions  are 
all  around  him.  It  seems  that  you  are  supposed  to 
be  in  the  South  for  no  good  purpose,  and  not  with 
out  an  understanding  with  him.  My  disappearance 
will  attract  farther  notice.  Jtor  that  he  cares  little  ; 
but  he  is  so  scrupulous  in  his  notions  of  honor  and 
truth,  that,  were  he  questioned  about  us,  he  could 
hardly  conceal  any  thing  he  might  know.  Your 
letters,  I  see,  still  come  from  the  South,  though  they 
say  nothing  of  your  whereabout.  Of  course,  he 
thinks  you  are  there ;  and  I,  without  undeceiving 
him,  simply  asked  leave  to  go  to  look  for  you.  That 


280  The  Partisan  Leader. 

his  feelings  are  with  us,  I  have  no  doubt.  But  he  is 
so  beset  by  spies,  and  so  hampered  by  the  position 
of  our  brothers  in  the  army  and  navy,  that  he  even 
tries  to  hide  the  secret  of  his  thoughts  from  him 
self." 

Thus  the  brothers  conversed  until  Schwartz  re 
turned  and  claimed  the  Captain's  ear ;  who  began  by 
asking  what  news  he  brought  from  B . 

"  The  Colonel  (so  he  always  designated  B )  likes 

your  plan  mightily,  sir,"  replied  Schwartz,  "  if  you 
can  rub  through  with  it.  But  he  is  afraid,  from  all 
he  can  learn,  that  them  fellows  at  Lynchburg  may 
be  too  many  for  you ;  so,  he  says,  you  must  find  out 
exactly  how  that  is,  and  if  you  don't  think  it  a  pretty 
good  chance,  just  slip  down  along  the  line,  toward 
the  middle  of  November,  and  join  him." 

"If  I  do  so,  where  am  I  to  find  him  precisely?" 
asked  Douglas. 

"  Just  where  the  Petersburg  railroad  crosses  the 
line,"  said  Schwartz.  "  You  see  the  folks  there  are 
all  friendly,  because  as  long  as  things  stay  as  they 
are,  their  railroad  an't  worth  an  old  flint,  and  so  they 
are  patching  up  all  the  old  cars,  and  fixing  every 
thing  for  the  Colonel,  as  soon  as  he  can  start  a 
regiment  or  so,  to  make  a  dash  at  Petersburg,  and 
so  hold  on  there  till  the  rest  of  his  men  join  him. 
N"ow,  if  we  were  to  be  the  first  there,  Captain,  I 
liave  a  notion  that  we'd  be  the  very  boys  for  them 
chaps  at  Petersburg." 

"  I  should  like  that  well,"  said  Douglas.     "  But 


The  Partisan  Leader.  281 

I  understand  my  old  acquaintance,  Col.  Mason,  at 
Lynchburg,  lias  a  great  desire  to  see  me,  and  I  should 
hate  to  disappoint  him." 

"  I  don't  think  he  commands  there  now,"  said 
Schwartz.  "  There  is  another  regiment  come  from 
the  North  to  join  him,  and  they  say  the  other  is  the 
oldest  colonel." 

"  That  is  of  course,"  said  Douglas,  "  for  Mason  is 
the  youngest  in  the  army.  But  I  am  not  sorry  for 
the  exchange,  for  they  have  hardly  sent  as  good  a 
one.  There  is  not  a  man  among  them  I  would  not 
rather  meet  than  Mason.  Have  you  been  able  to 
learn  the  particulars  of  their  force  there  ?" 

"  As  well  as  I  can  understand,"  replied  Schwartz, 
"  the  whole  number  is  not  far  from  a  thousand,  and 
may  be  a  few  more." 

"  A  thousand !  Can  we  raise  men  enough  to  strike 
at  them  before  they  think  of  it  ?" 

"  I  have  not  a  doubt  of  it,  sir,  if  we  could  get  at 
them  on  fair  terms.  The  people  along  down  be 
tween  here  and  Staunton  river  don't  like  the  thoughts 
of  what  them  fellows  may  do  to  them,  and  they  are 
keen  to  take  them  before  they  are  ready.  I  talked 
to  the  head-men  among  them,  as  you  told  me,  and 
they  all  see  that  the  right  way  is  to  try  to  get  the 
first  blow.  Because,  you  see,  Captain,  when  we  aiTt 
gaining  we  are  losing.  If  we  let  the  enemy  hold 
Lynchburg,  and  they  find  two  regiments  will  not  do, 
they  will  bring  four,  and  so  on,  till  they  get  the  upper 
hand,  and  then  they  will  pay  these  poor  fellows 


282  The   Partisan  Leader. 

about  here  for  old  and  new.  But  if  we  could  make 
out  to  give  them  a  real  beating,  and  so  drive  them 
clean  off,  why  all  the  country  as  far  as  the  Rappa- 
hannock  would  rise  that  minute,  and  they'd  have 
enough  to  do  to  hold  their  own  at  Fredericksburg." 

"  I  suppose  you  said  all  this  to  Mr.  B ?" 

"  To  be  sure  I  did,  sir;  and  he  thinks  just  as  we 
do  about  it,  only  he  is  dubious  about  attacking  a 
fortified  camp,  as  they  call  it,  just  with  rifles." 

"  He  is  right  about  that,"  replied  Douglas. 
"  Riflemen  are  the  best  troops  in  the  world  to  defend 
a  breastwork,  but  they  are  the  worst  to  attack  one. 
I  had  hopes,  however,  that  we  might  have  drawn 
out  the  enemy  by  some  device,  even  when  Mason 
commanded.  He  is  too  brave  to  be  ashamed  to  be 
prudent.  I  wish  I  knew  whom  they  have  sent  to 
supersede  him.  But,  whoever  he  is,  it  is  a  hundred 
to  one,  that  being  set  over  the  head  of  an  abler  man, 
he  will  be  impatient  to  show  his  superiority  by 
reversing  his  predecessor's  plans,  and  shaming  the 
prudence  of  Mason  by  some  hasty  display  of  valor. 
If  I  did  but  know  who  was  in  command  !" 

"  I  tried  to  find  that  out,"  replied  Schwartz ;  "  be 
cause  1  knew  you  were  pretty  well  acquainted  with 
the  most  of  them.  You  remember,  sir,  you  told  me 
from  the  first  almost  exactly  how  this  Col.  Mason 
was  going  to  do.  But* I  could  not  find  any  body 
that  could  tell  me  the  new  Colonel's  name.  But, 

whoever  he  is,  Mr.  B thinks,  and  so  do  I  (but 

that  is  nothing),  and  I  have  a  notion  you  do  too 


The  Partisan  Leader.  283 

% 

partly,  sir,  that  if  we  mean  to  do  any  thing  with 
them,  we  must  try  to  catch  them  somewhere  be 
tween  here  and  Lynchburg." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  is  all  too  true,"  said  Douglas, 
"  and  if  no  such  chance  offers,  we  shall  have  to  give 

them  the  slip  as  B proposes ;  and  I  should  hate 

it," 

"  And  so  would  I,"  said  Schwartz ;  "  and  so,  you 
see,  sir,  I  have  been  trying  to  fix  a  sort  of  a  plan  to 
draw  them  out,  and  that  is  what  I  want  to  tell  you 
about." 

What  this  plan  was,  the  next  chapter  shall  dis 
close. 


284  The  Partisan  Leader. 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

And  yet  I  knew  him  a  notorious  liar ; 

Think  him  a  great-way  fool — solely  a  coward. 

SHAKSPEAEB. 

"  Yon  must  understand,  Captain,"  continued 
Schwartz,  "  that  I  had  allotted  to  fall  in  with  your 
brother  about  Little  Roanoke  bridge,  where  our  roads 
come  together.  The  people  there  are  friendly,  and 
mighty  clever  people,  and  if  they  don't  know  all 
about  me,  they  don't  want  much  of  it ;  for  they  are 
our  own  sort  of  folks,  and  true  as  steel.  So  I  thought 
I  could  depend  on  them  to  take  notice  for  me  when 
such  a  man  might  pass,  and  let  me  know.  When 
I  got  there,  by  all  I  could  learn,  your  brother  had* 
not  gone  by  ;  and,  as  I  was  pretty  tired,  and  that  is 
one  of  the  places  where  I  commonly  lie  by  to  pick 
up  news,  I  thought  I  would  stop  a  while. 

"  I  had  not  been  there  long,  before  here  comes 
the  Captain  that  commands  the  company  at  Farm- 
ville  ;  and  if  ever  I  saw  a  conceited  fool,  you  may 
be  sure  he  is  one.  What  he  was  after,  the  Lord 
knows.  He  said  he  was  reconnoitring,  but  I  have 
a  notion  he  was  just  looking  for  somebody  to  talk 
to ;  and  as  the  folks  there  ain't  got  much  chat  for 


The  Partisan  Leader.  285 

any  body,  he  just  claps  to  talking  to  me.  And  he 
run  on  about  one  thing  and  another,  and  there  was 
nothing  I  wanted  to  know  but  what  he  told  me,  only 
just  I  knew  it  all  before.  But  I  thought,  may  be,  I 
might  get  something  out  of  him,  so  I  let  him  talk, 
and  I  sot  and  listened.  * 

"  After  a  while  he  gets  to  talking  about  you. 
And,  Lord  !  how  he  wished  you  would  come  in  his 
way ;  and  how  he  would  have  served  you,  if  you 
had  tried  to  beat  up  his  quarters,  like  you  did  them 
fellows  at  Lynchburg.  But  he  was  in  hopes  to 
have  a  clip  at  you  yet,  only  just  you  were  always 
hiding  and  skulking  in  the  mountains,  like  a  wolf, 
and  then  coming  down  in  the  night  to  kill  sheep. 
And  he  reckoned  you  'knew  where  the  dogs  was,  and 
took  care  to  keep  out  of  their  way.  And  then  he 
laughed,  and  thought  he  was  mighty  smart.  So, 
thought  I,  <  stranger,  if  you  have  a  mind  to  get  into 
hot  water,  may  be  you  may  have  a  chance.'  So  I 
speaks  up ;  and,  says  I,  <  after  all,  that  Captain 
Douglas  an't  half  the  man  he's  cracked  up  for,  no 
how.'  " 

"  Do  you  know  him  ?"  says  he. 

« I  guess  I  do,"  says  I ;  "  he  is  cunning  enough, 
and  he  has  got  tricks  enough,  and  signs  and  coun 
tersigns  to  keep  out  of  harm's  way ;  but,"  says  I, 
"if  a  man  could  just  get  hold  of  his  signs,  and 
so  get  at  him,  he  an't  nothing  for  a  right,  real  hard 
fight." 

"  They  tell  me,"  says  he,   "  there  an't  no  such 


286  The  Partisan  Leader. 

thing  as  getting  in  twenty  miles  of  him,  or  more, 
may  be;  and  all  the  folks  through  the  country  there 
stands  guard  for  him,  and  nobody  else  knows  where 
he  is." 

"  That's  very  true,"  says  I ;  "  but  then  you  see, 
stranger,  when  too  many  folks  has  got  a  secret, 
then  it  an't  a  secret  no  more." 

"  It's  a  wonder,"  says  he,  "  some  of  them  don't 
tell." 

"  May  be  they  cannot  get  any  thing  by  telling," 
says  I.  "  There's  many  a  poor  fellow  there,  to  my 
knowing,  that  don't  see  a  dollar  once  a  year,  and  its 
mighty  little  the  sight  of  a  few  yellow  jackets  would 
not  make  them  tell,  only  just  they  never  seed  any, 
and  don't  know  what  they  are.  But  they'll  be  right 
apt  to  find  out." 

"  You  talk  like  you  know  that  part  of  the  coun 
try,"  says  he.  "  May  be  you  know  something  about 
it." 

"  May  be  I  might,"  says  I.  "  But  then,"  says  I, 
"  it  don't  become  a  poor  fellow,  like  me,  to  know 
any  thing  that  a  grand  officer,  with  his  fine  apper- 
lets,  all  of  solid  gold,  don't  know.  Lord !"  says  I, 
"  if  I  had  but  half  the  money  you  give  for  your 
apperlets,  I  reckon  I'd  know  something  then." 

And  with  that  he  looks  right  hard  at  me,  and 
nays  he,  "  May  be  you'd  like  to  list  for  a  soldier." 

"  May  be  I  would,"  says  I,  "  if  th'ey  pays  me  well. 
'Cause,  you  sec,"  says  I,  "  sir,  as  to  the  country  and 
the  President,  and  all  that,  it's  what  I  don't  know 


The  Partisan  Leader.  287 

nothing  about;  only  I  takes  their  part  as  takes  my 
part.  And  that's  the  reason,"  says  I,  "  I  would  not 
stay  up  yonder." 

"Why,"  says  he,  "do  you  live  there,  when  you 
are  at  home  ?" 

" I  cannot  say,"  says  I,  "that  I  have  got  a  home 
rightly  anywhere.  But  I  did  live  there,  after  a  fashion ; 
and  they  wanted  me  to  do  like  the  rest  of  them,  and 
quit  my  business  and  keep  guard,  and  stop  every  man 
that  could  not  give  the  signs.  And  what  was  I  to 
get  by  it  ?  Just  nothing  at  all.  If  I  had  any  bread 
of  my  own  to  eat,  why,  I  might  eat  it ;  and  if  I  killed 
a  deer,  they'd  take  their  share,  and  thought  they  did 
great  things  if  they  let  me  keep  the  skin ;  but  as  to 
pay,  they  don't  think  of  such  a  thing.  But  that  would 
not  do  for  me,"  says  I ;  "  and,  more  than  that,  it  won't 
do  for  more,  besides  me,  whatever  Captain  Douglas 
may  think  of  it,  I  can  tell  him." 

"  Well,"  says  he,  "if  you'll  list  with  me  you  shall 
have  pay,  and  bounty,  and  clothes,  and  rations,  and 
all.  'Cause,"  says  he,  "  the  President,  he  keeps  the 
key  of  the  treasury,  and  we  are  his  soldiers,  and  we 
all  live  like  fighting  cocks,  I  can  tell  you." 

"  Well,"  says  I,  "  I'd  like  to  list  well  enough,  only 
just  I  guess  if  once  you  had  me  for  a  soldier,  you'd 
make  me  tell  all  I  know,  and  ax  me  no  odds  ;  and," 
says  I,  "  I  have  been  a- thinking,  if  I  could  meet  with 
any  right  clever  gentleman,  that  would  pay  me 
for  telling,  I'd  tell  it  all  first,  and  then  list  after 
wards." 

5 


288  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  Well,"  says  he,  "  do  you  know  Douglas's  signs, 
enough  to  carry  a  man  to  his  camp  as  a  friend?" 

"  I  guess  I  do,"  says  I,  "  and  more  than  that, 
too." 

"  And  what  do  you  know  ?"  says  he. 

"  That's  telling,"  says  I. 

"But,"  says  he,  "I  want  to  know  all  about  it," 
says  he,  "  because  Col.  Mason,  there,  at  Lynchburg,  is 
determined  to  break  Douglas  up,  if  he  can  get  at  him ; 
and  he  is  looking  every  day  for  more  men  from  the 
North  to  help  him." 

"  Well,"  says  I,  "  I  can  put  him  in  a  way  to  get  at 
him,  and  not  go  up  there  into  the  mountains  neither. 
'Cause,"  says  I,  "that's  an  ugly  place.  It  an't  one 
regiment,  nor  two  neither  hardly,  that  could  do  much 
there.  And  then,  again,  if  Douglas  was  to  find  too 
many  coming  against  him,  he'd  be  away  t'other  side 
of  Salem  before  they'd  get  there." 

"  And  how  is  a  body  to  get  at  him  ?"  says  he. 

"Ah  !"  says  I,  "  that's  a  long  story." 

"  Well,"  says  he,  "I  see  what  you  are  after,  and  if 
you'll  put  me  in  a  way  to  give  Col.  Mason  a  fair  clip 
at  him,  it  will  make  my  fortune,  and  then  I'll  be  bound 
to  see  you  paid  handsomely." 

"  That  an't  what  I  am  after,"  says  I. 

"  Why,  don't  you  want  money  ?"  says  he. 

"  To  be  sure  I  do,"  says  I ;   "  but  that  an't  money." 

"Well,"  says  he,  "  tell  me  what  you  can  do,  and  I 
will  tell  you  what  I'll  do." 

"  That's  something  like,"  says  I.     "  As  to  what  I 


The  Partisan  Leader.  289 

can  do,  I  can  put  you  in  a  way  to  catch  Captain 
Douglas  out  of  the  mountains,  with  as  many  men  as 
you  please  to  bring  agin  him." 

"Well,"  says  he,  "if  you'll  do  that,  I'll  pay  you  a 
hundred  dollars." 

"  The  dear  Lord  !"  says  I.  "  A  hundred  dollars  ! 
I  never  expected  to  have  that  much  money  in  my 
life!" 

"  May  be  it's  too  much,"  says  he.  "  May  be  fifty 
will  do?" 

"  No,  no,"  says  I ;  "  a  hundred  will  do  mighty 
well ;  so  let  me  have  the  cash,  and  I'll  tell  you  all." 

"That  won't  do,"  says  he.  "How  do  I  know 
that  what  you  are  going  to  tell  me  will  do  me  any 
good?" 

"  Well,"  says  I,  "  I  reckon  if  one  won't  another 
will." 

So,  with  that,  he  studied  a  while,  and  says  he : 
"  Well,  I'll  give  you  my  note  for  a  hundred  dollars, 
to  be  paid  directly  after  Col.  Mason  gets  a  lick  at 
Douglas  in  the  low  country,  by  my  help." 

"  Cannot  you  give  me  an  order  on  Mr.  Morton,  here, 
in  the  same  way  ?"  says  I. 

"  You  are  mighty  tight,"  says  he;  "  but  may  be  I 
can." 

So,  with  that  he  speaks  to  Mr.  Morton,  and  he 
agreed  to  accept  the  order.  You  see,  sir,  Mr. 
Morton,  as  I  told  you,  is  a  true-hearted  Virginian  ; 
and  he  knows  me,  and  I  just  sorter  winked  at  him, 
to  let  him  know  all  was  safe.  For  as  to  that  fellow 


290  The  Partisan  Leader. 

paying  him  again  after  he  paid  me,  Mr.  Morton 
hadn't  no  thought  of  it,  nor  I  neither.  But  he  seed 
what  I  was  after,  and  says  he  to  the  Captain :  "  To 
be  sure,  sir,  it's  nothing  I  would  not  do  to  serve  the 
country."  And  with  that  they  fixed  the  order  .all 
right,  and  gives  it  to  me,  and  I  slips  it  back  again 
into  Mr.  Morton's  hand.  And  then  I  takes  the 
Captain  out  again,  and  tells  him  the  way  up  here ; 
and,  says  I,  "  Now,  if  you  can  get  to  see  Captain 
Douglas,  you  must  fix  a  good  story  to  tell  him." 

"  And  what  must  that  be  ?"  says  he. 

"  Why,  you  have  only  just  to  tell  him  that  you 
have  raised  a  parcel  of  men  in  Bedford  county,  or 
somewhere  thereaway,  sorter  toward  Lynchburg,  and 
you  want  to  know  where  to  join  him.  Then  he'll  be 
sure  to  tell  you  when  he  is  coming  down  out  of  the 
mountains,  and  he'll  name  a  place  for  you  to  meet 
him  at,  and  then  if  you  don't  fix  him  about  right,  it 
an't  my  fault." 

"But  how  am  I  to  get  to  him  ?"  says  he. 

"  That's  it,"  says  I,  "  and  that's  what  you  never 
could  do  without  help.  You  see,"  says  I,  "  sir,  every 
man  in  that  country  lives  by  hunting,  more  or  less  ; 
and  every  man  has  a  rifle  for  himself,  and  one  for 
every  one  of  his  boys,  and  may  be  more.  And  when 
a  fellow  is  going  anywhere,  he  never  knows  when 
he  may  see  a  deer ;  so  you  never  can  catch  them 
without  their  rifles.  But  then  you  may  travel  all 
through  the  country,  and  you  won't  see  a  man  that 
looks  any  ways  like  a  soldier.  And  when  they  want 


The  Partisan  Leader.  291 

to  stop  a  man,  they  don't  bawl  at  him  and  ask  for 
the  countersign.  That  sort  of  thing  may  do  in  an 
army,  but  it  won't  do  with  folks  that  have  not  got  an 
army  to  back  them.  So  you  may  fall  in  with  ever  so 
many  of  them,  and  they'll  find  you  out ;  but  if  they 
choose  to  let  you  pass,  you'll  never  find  them  out,  nor 
know  what  they  are  after." 

"  But  how  are  they  to  find  me  out,"  says  he,  "if 
they  an't  got  no  countersign  ?" 

"  They  an't  got  no  countersign,  rightly"  says  I ; 
"  but  it  is  pretty  much  the  same  thing,  if  a  man  asks 
you  a  civil  question,  and  you  don't  know  what  answer 
to  give  him.  Now,  suppose  you  was  travelling  along 
there,  and  you  meets  one  of  them  fellows,  and  he  was 
to  ask  you,  mighty  innocent  like,  what  parts  you  were 
from.  What  would  you  say  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  says  he.  "  May  be  I'd  tell  him  I 
was  from  down  about  Halifax  court-house." 

"  And  that  minute,"  says  I,  "  he'd  know  all  about 
you." 

"  How's  that  ?"  says  he. 

"  Why,  that's  the  way  they  ax  for  the  countersign," 
says  I. 

"  What  is  the  countersign  ?"  says  he. 

"  CUKRITUCK,"  says  I;  "when  they  ax  you  that, 
you  must  say  you  come  from  Currituck." 

"  And  is  that  all  ?"  says  he.  "  Why,  that  is  a 
countersign,  sure  enough.  But  don't  they  never 
change  it  ?" 

"  No,"  says  I ;  "  the  men  are  too  much  scattered  all 


292  The    Partisan  Leader. 

through  the  country,  for  that ;  but  it  answers  mighty 
well,  the  way  they  fix  it.  They  don't  let  you  off 
with  one  question,  just  so,  but  they'll  ask  you  a  heap 
more ;  and  they'll  say  a  heap  of  simple  things  to  you 
just  to  hear  what  you'll  say  ;  and  just  about  the  time 
you  think  you  have  fooled  them,  they'll  find  you  out. 
There's  a  parcel  of  sharp  fellows  up  thereaway,  mind, 
I  tell  you ;  and  you'll  have  to  get  your  lesson  mighty 
well  before  you  go  there.  You  see,  some  will  ask 
you  one  question  and  some  another.  You  don't  know 
what  it's  going  to  be  ;  so  I  must  tell  you  all  the  straight 
of  it,  and  you  must  practise  before  we  part ;  and  then," 
says  I,  "  you  can  write  it  all  down,  and  all  the  way 
you  go  you  can  be  saying  it  over."  So,  with  that,  sir, 
I  tells  him  the  biggest  part  of  our  questions ;  but  you 
may  be  sure  I  gave  him  wrong  answers  to  every  one 
of  them.  But  then  I  told  our  people  at  the  different 
stations  along  about  him,  and  toldtihem  to  pass  him, 
and  never  let  him  know  but  what  his  answers  were 
all  right.  So  then  I  tells  him  that  when  he  got  to  you, 
you  would  want  to  know,  may  be,  how  he  came  by 
the  signs  ;  and,  says  I,  "  when  he  axes  you  that,  you 
must  tell  him  you  got  them  from  Job  Di-xon,"  says  I. 
'l  That's  a  fellow  the  Captain  keeps  busy  recruiting 
away  down  the  country,  and  when  he  hears  that,  he 
won't  suspicion  you  the  least  in  the  world  ;  'cause  you 
see,"  says  I,  "  the  man  they  call  Job  Dixon  has  got 
another  name  besides  that,  and  that  name  an't  nothing 
but  a  sort  of  a  countersign  for  the  Captain  to  know 
the  men  by  that  he  sends  in."  You  see,  Captain,  I 


The  Partisan  Leader.  293 

fixed  all  this  way,  that  I  might  let  you  know  exactly, 
so  that  if  the  fellow  should  come  when  I  was  out  of 
the  way,  you  might  know  what  to  think  of  him,  just 
as  if  I  was  here.  And  it  won't  do  to  let  him  see  me, 
no  how." 

"  Job  Dixon  /"  said  Douglas.  "  Well,  let  me 
make  a  memorandum  of  that  name." 

Saying  this,  he  took  a  letter  from  his  pocket,  and 
endorsing  the  name  of  Job  Dixon  on  the  back  of 
it,  as  that  of  the  writer,  threw  it  on  the  table. 

"  That  will  do,"  said  Schwartz.  "  He  will  be  here 
bright  and  early  in  the  morning,  and  when  lie  sees 
that,  he  will  feel  as  safe  as  a  rat  in  a  mill." 

"Here  in  the  morning!"  said  Douglas.  "How 
can  you  be  sure  of  that  ?" 

"  I  seed  him  from  the  top  of  the  mountain," 
replied  Schwartz,  "  when  Witt  stopped  him.  I  told 
Witt  to  keep  him  all  night,  and  send  him  on  in  the 
morning,  with  a  couple  of  fellows  to  show  him  the 
way,  and  guard  him." 

"  If  that  is  the  case,"  said  Douglas,  "  I  can  meet 
him  at  the  piquet,  and  stop  him  there  ;  for  I  would 
rather  he  should  not  see  this  place.  Bat  what 
arrangement  would  you  advise  me  to  make  with 
him  ?" 

"Why,  the  Colonel  says,"  replied  Schwartz, 
"  that  he  wants  you  to  join  him  at  his  rendezvous 
about  the  last  of  November,  or  may  be  a  little  ear 
lier;  so  whatever  you  do  ought  to  be  done  time 
enough  to  fall  back,  if  we  get  worsted,  and  slip 


294  The  Partisan  Leader. 

along  down  the  line,  according  to  your  old  plan. 
So  I  am  a  thinking  it  would  be  well  to  fix  the  time 
for  meeting  this  fellow  about  the  tenth  of  the  month, 
and  then,  if  we  can  catch  them  in  their  own  trap,  we 
shall  have  time  to  follow  up  the  blow  and  break  up 
their  whole  establishment  there  at  Lynchburg,  and 
then  march  boldly  down  the  straight  road." 

"  Do  you  know  of  any  crossing-place  on  Staunton 
river,  in  the  direction  of  Lynchburg,"  asked  Doug 
las,  "  that  would  answer  for  an  ambuscade  ?" 

"  I  have  a  notion,"  said  Schwartz,  "  that  Jones's 
Ford  would  suit  as  .  well  as  any  other ;  because 
there's  a  deep  hollow  comes  down  on  both  sides  of 
it,  and  thick  woods  on  the  hills." 

"That  will  do  then,"  said  Douglas.  "So  now 
let  us  take  our  supper  and  go  to  rest;  for  I  must  be 
at  the  piquet  in  time  to  meet  your  man.  Before 
you  go  to  sleep,  suppose  you  send  one  of  our  boys 
to  tell  them  to  stop  him  if  he  gets  there  before  me." 

The  supper  was  produced,  and  fully  justified  what 
Witt  had  told  Arthur  of  the  fare  he  might  expect. 
As  to  lodging,  bear-skins  were  plenty,  and  so  were 
blankets,  which  had  been  collected  during  the  expe 
dition  against  Lynchburg.  But  a  rock  is  a  hard 
bed,  put  on  it  what  you  will.  Yet  youth,  and 
health,  and  high  excitement,  gave  Arthur  a  most 
luxurious  supper,  and  a  night  of  such  sleep  as  the 
best  lodged  prince  in  Europe  might  envy. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  295 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

The  sunken  glen,  whose  sunless  shrubs  must  weep. 

WHEN  Arthur  awoke,  he  found  himself  alone. 
The  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens,  but  a  deep  shadow 
hung  over  the  dark  glen,  into  which  his  rays  never 
looked,  except  at  noon-day.  Arthur  now  walked 
out,  and  amused  himself  with  gazing  around  on  the 
singular  spot  which  his  brother  had  chosen  as  a 
place  of  refuge.  It  was,  indeed,  a  place  of  strength, 
which  seemed  calculated  to  bid  defiance  to  any 
thing  but  famine. 

The  glen,  at  this  point,  might  be  some  two  hun 
dred  feet  deep.  Above  and  below,  the  little  stream 
filled  the  whole  chasm,  pouring  furiously  along 
between  overhanging  cliifs.  The  tops  of  these, 
except  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  were  crowned  with 
lofty  trees,  which,  nodding  to  each  other  across  the 
gulph,  in  some  places  nearly  intermingled  their 
branches.  The  valley,  jnst  where  Douglas  had 
pitched  his  camp,  was  somewhat  wider.  Jnst  above, 
the  stream  seemed  to  gush  from  the  very  bowels  of 
the  mountain,  dashing,  as  it  tumbled  over  a  fall  of 
twenty  or  thirty  feet,  against  the  dark  evergreens 
which  clustered  bulli  bides  of  the  gulph.  From 
5* 


The  Partisan  Leader. 

(hence,  flowing  through  a  wider  space,  it  still  COL 
fined  itself  to  a  narrow  and  deep  channel,  scooped 
into  an  almost  cavernous  bed,  under  the  western 
cliff.  Thence,  turning  abruptly  to  the  southeast,  it 
swept  across  the  dell  to  the  opposite  hill,  from  which 
it  again  recoiled  in  like  manner.  There  was  thus, 
on  each  side,  between  the  hill  and  the  receding 
stream,  a  spot  of  dry  ground,  or  rather  rock.  It  was 
indeed  nothing  but  a  rocky  shelf,  a  little  above  inun 
dation,  jutting  in  a  half  moon  from  the  base  of  the 
cliff.  About  the  middle  of  its  passage  from  hill  to 
hill,  the  stream  tumbled  over  a  ledge,  the  highest 
points  of  which,  rising  above  the  water,  served  as 
stepping  stones,  and  afforded  a  passage  across,  prac 
ticable  indeed,  but  neither  commodious,  nor  to  the 
eye  of  a  stranger,  even  safe. 

The  sort  of  stair  which  afforded  the  only  approach 
to  this  savage  den,  hung  directly  over  the  stream,  at 
the  point  where,  having  crossed  from  the  western 
side  of  the  glen,  it  again  whirled  back,  leaving,  as  I 
have  said,  a  dry  spot  on  its  eastern  margin.  At  the 
upper  corner  of  this  shelf,  where  it  touched  the  cliff, 
the  path  reached  the  bottom  ;  and  an  hundred  yards 
below,  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  same  platform, 
hung  the  tent-cloth  that  indicated  the  quarters  of  the 
chief. 

The  sort  of  cave,  the  mouth  of  which  was  con 
cealed  by  this,  was  but  a  deepening  of  the  recess 
under  the  cliff,  which  everywhere  afforded  a  partial 
shelter  from  the  weather,  and  a  complete  defence 


The  Partisan  Leader.  297 


against  rocks  tumbled  from  above.  Under 
were  the  rude  beds  and  camp-fires  of  the  men,  and 
in  front  of  them  a  breast-work  of  logs,  raised  high 
enough  to  afford  protection  from  any  shot  fired  from 
the  opposite  hill.  Between  the  upper  log  and  that 
next  below  it,  was  a  sort  of  loop-hole,  made  by  cut 
ting  corresponding  notches  in  each  ;  and  as  the  edges 
of  the  cliffs  had  been  shorn  of  all  their  growth,  a 
man  could  not  show  himself  on  either,  without 
being  exposed  to  the  fatal  fire  of  men  directing  their 
aim  with  a  rest,  and  in  all  the  coolness  of  perfect 
safety. 

The  most  curious  part  of  the  whole  establishment 
was  a  sort  of  mill.  At  the  point  where  the  stream, 
breaking  over  the  rocky  ledge  of  which  I  have  spoken, 
swept  away  around  the  shoulder  of  the  platform,  was 
placed  a  small  log  pen.  The  end  of  a  shaft,  pro 
jecting  from  it,  overhung  the  water.  Into  this  were 
driven  stakes,  fitted  at  one  end  into  large  auger-holes, 
and,  at  the  other,  spread  out  like  a  broad  oar.  These 
fan-like  extremities  dipped  in  the  water,  and,  yield 
ing  to  its  force,  kept  the  shaft  revolving  night  and 
day.  Machinery  equally  rude  connected  its  move 
ments  with  those  of  a  pair  of  light  mill-stones,  which 
found  no  rest,  and  required  no  attention.  Though 
grinding  less  than  a  bushel  in  the  hour,  it  still  ground 
on  and  on,  affording  coarse  bread  for  the  whole 
company  and  showing  how  true  the  old  adage,  that 
"  fair  and  softly  go  far  in  a  day."  One  man  was 
seen  to  replenish  the  hopper.  Others  were  passing 


298  The  Partisan  Leader. 

and  repassing,  eacli  with  his  share  of  meal.  The 
whole  was  covered  with  rude  boards.  Exposed  to  the 
•fire  of  each  cliff,  it  was,  of  course,  capable  of  being 
made  to  command  both,  and  some  of  its  features 
showed  that  it  was  intended  to  be  occupied  as  a 
tower  of  strength  in  case  of  attack. 

In  short,  to  the  unpractised  eye  of  Arthur,  the 
whole  presented  the  appearance  of  impregnable  secu 
rity  and  well  arranged  preparation.  There  was 
indeed  no  present  danger,  but  the  place  had  been 
chosen  and  fitted  with  a  view  to  the  last  extremity. 
The  course  of  the  stream,  tending  to  the  south,  led 
in  a  few  miles  into  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  and 
in  that  direction  there  was  an  outlet  practicable, 
v though  difficult.  Between  the  camp  and  the . State 
line  there  was  no  point  at  which  the  glen  could 
be  entered;  and  Douglas,  if  driven  to  retreat  in 
that  direction,  had  none  but  natural  obstacle^  to 
overcome. 

Cold  weather  was  now  approaching,  and  there 
was  no  station  where  the  troops  of  Douglas  were  so 
little  exposed  to  the  severity  of  the  season  as  this. 
The  soft  air  from  the  waterfall,  though  never  warm, 
was  never  intensely  cold,  and  no  other  wind  but  that 
from  the  south  ever  entered  the  glen.  Hence  as 
many  men  as  were  not  engaged  on  active  duty  were 
assembled  here.  Still  the  number  present  was  but 
small.  Some  were  at  the  piquet,  some  on  the  scout. 
Besides,  it  was  now  the  hunting  season,  and  many 
were  abroad  in  the  woods,  as  the  carcasses  brought 


The  Partisan  Leader.  299 

in  during  the  course  of  the  morning  plainly 
showed. 

Arthur  now  looked  around  for  Schwartz ;  and  hear 
ing  his  voice  behind  one  of  the  breast-works,  passed 
around  the  end  of  it,  and  silently  joining  the  circle, 
listened  to  his  discourse,  which  seemed  to  be  a  sort 
of  military  lecture. 

"  You  see,  boys,"  said  he,  "  as  to  tictacs,  or 
whatever  they  call  it,  that  sort  of  thing  an't  made  for 
the  like  of  us.  When  a  parcel  of  fellows  lists  for 
soldiers,  just  because  they  an't  got  nothing  else  to 
do,  and  may  be  one  half  of  them  is  cowards,  and  the 
other  half  not  much  better,  they  are  obliged  to  have 
rules  to  go  by.  Because,  if  once  you  can  beat  it  into 
a  fellow's  head  that  after  he  has  got  into  danger  it 
is  safer  for  him  to  stand  still  than  to  run  away,  why 
then  the  worse  scared  he  is  the  surer  he  will  be  to  stay 
there.  But  it  an't  so  with  us,  because  if  any  of  us 
was  any  way  scary,  he  would  riot  be  here  no  how. 
The  only  rule  for  us  is  the  Indian  rule. 

"  In  the  first  place,  it  is  our  business  always  to 
know  where  the  inirny  is  before  he  knows  where  we 
are,  and  .then,  if  we  don't  want  to  fight  him,  keep 
out  of  his  way.  Now  the  right  way  to  do  that,  is 
just  to  squander,  like  a  flock  of  partridges. 

"  Then  if  you  are  going  to  fight,  the  only  rule  is 
to  give  the  word,  and  let  every  man  kill  all  he  can, 
and  take  care  of  himself  the  best  he  can.  Now  that 
way  the  riglars  fight ;  if  one  man  in  ten  kills  a  man, 
they  call  it  desperate  bloody  work.  But  I  reckon  if 


300  The  Partisan  Leader. 

there  was  an  inimy  now  coming  up  the  valley  to  the 
foot  of  the  Devil's  Back-bone,  and  the  word  was, 
to  kill  all  we  could  before  he  got  there,  any  of  us 
here  would  feel  mighty  cheap  if  he  did  not  kill  some 
body. 

"And  mind,  boys,  whether  we  fight  or  run,  whether 
we  keep  together,  or  squander,  '  two  and  two,  is  the 
word.  You  must  all  mate  yourselves  two  and  two, 
to  stand  together  and  run  together,  to  fight  together 
and  die  together.  One  of  you  must  call  himself 
number  one,  and  the  other  number  two,  and  then, 
if  there's  a  hundred  together  and  the  inimy  conies 
number  two  never  fires  till  number  one  has  fired  and 
loaded  again.  You  see,  men,  a  fellow  takes  good 
aim,  when  he  knows  there's  another  one  by,  to  hit  if' 
he  misses ;  and  fifty  rifles  in  that  way,  will  do  more 
than  a  hundred  when  every  one  knows  that's  his  last 
chance.  Fifty  rifles  will  stop  a  troop  of  horse,  and 
a  hundred  cannot  do  no  more.  But  if  the  guns  are 
all  empty,  then  here  comes  what's  left  of  them  slash 
ing  away  with  the  broad-swrords  like  devils.  But 
let  there  be  a  few  more  guns  to  pepper  away  at  them 
while  the  first  are  loading,  and  they  will  go  to  the 
right-about  mighty  quick. 

"  Now  mind  what  I  tell  you,  boys,  and  the  first 
time  it  comes  to  the  pinch,  you'll  say  old  Schwartz 
didn't  fight  Indians  so  long  for  nothing.  And  as  to 
running,  any  man  that's  afraid  to  run  when  he  sees 
cause,  is  half  a  coward,  any  how.  Do  you  run  just 
•when  you  please.  Egad  !  I'd  hate  to  depend  on  a 


The  Partisan  Leader.  301 

man  to  fight  that  I  could  not  trust  to  run.  There  is 
no  harm  in  running,  if  you  know  where  you  are  run 
ning  to,  and  your  friends  know  it  too ;  and  the  right 
way  is  to  fix  a  place,  every  morning,  to  meet  at 
night,  and  let  every  man  get  there  as  he  can,  and  do 
what  mischief  he  can.  But,  mind,  if  it  comes  to 
that,  always  run  two  and  two,  and  then  one  can  help 
another ;  and  if  one  comes  up  missing,  the  other  can 
tell  what's  become  of  him. 

"  I'm  telling  our  boys,"  continued  Schwartz,  who 
now  observed  Arthur,  "  some  of  the  lessons  I  learned 
among  the  Shawnees.  You  see,  Mr.  Arthur  (you 
must  not  think  strange  of  my  calling  you  so,  sir,  for 
all  your  family  seem  like  my  own  flesh  and  blood  to 
me — for  all  you  don't  know  how  that  is) ;  you  see, 
sir,  the  Captain  is  a  regular  officer,  built  plumb  from 
the  ground  up ;  but  for  all  that,  he  knows  that  all  this 
is  true ;  and,  before  now,  when  he  and  I  have  been 
sitting  over  the  fire,  at  night,  he  has  told  me  about 
one  Gineral  Braddock,  I  think  they  called  him,  that 
got  his  men  shot  all  to  pieces,  and  himself  too,  just 
because  he  would  not  believe  that  there  was  any  other 
way  to  fight  but  just  his  way.  Now,  you  see,  sir,  the 
reason  why  he  was  taken  at  an  onplush  was,  that  he 
was  fighting  agin  Indians.  Well,  suppose  we  fight 
Indian-fashion  ;  will  not  that  be  pretty  much  the  same 
thing?  May  be  we  an't  exactly  up  to  that,  but  we 
must  do  the  best  we  can  ;  for  as  to  fighting  the  riglars 
just  in  their  own  way,  why  they'll  beat  us  as  long  as 
the  sun  shines. 


302  The   Partisan  Leader. 

"Do  you  mind  that  night,"  continued  Schwartz, 
laughing,  "  when  the  Lieutenant  and  his  men  came 
there  to  your  uncle's  to  take  him  and  the  Captain  ? 
That  was  Indian  play  for  you.  Egad !  if  I  had  not 
heard  that  the  Colonel  was  there,  I  should  have 
knowed  he  was  at  the  fixing  of  that  business.  You 
see,  sir,  that  is  what  a  man  learns  by  living  in  places 
where  a  body  is  never  safe ;  and  the  upshot  of  it  is, 
that  after  a  while  he  gets  so  that  he  never  can  be  in 
any  danger.  It's  like  learning  to  sleep  with  one  eye 
always  open." 

Schwartz  now  rose  from  the  ground,  where  he  had 
been  sitting,  and  brushing  the  ashes  from  his  leathers, 
joined  Arthur,  and  they  repaired  to  the  tent  where 
their  simple  meal  awaited  them.  From  him  the  youth 
learned  that  his  brother  had  repaired  to  the  piquet  at 
tin  early  hour ;  and  to  the  piquet,  gentle  reader,  we 
will  now  follow. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  303 


CHAPTEK    XXXIV. 


He  has  merit, 


Sufficient  for  itself  its  own  reward. 
Why  think  of  him  I     An  honorable  fool, 
He  seeks  no  other  guerdon. 

ANONYMOUS. 

DOUGLAS  was  at  the  piquet  long  enough  before  the 
arrival  of  his  guest,  to  make  such  arrangements  as 
should  prevent  the  stranger  from  suspecting  that  this 
was  not  the  camp  he  was  desirous  to  see.  He  had  no 
mind  that  his  enemy  should  know  the  real  nature  and 
precise  position  of  his  main  stronghold.  Plence  he 
had  determined  to  give  him  the  meeting  at  the  piquet, 
and  took  pains  to  provide,  as  if  for  his  own  ordinary 
accommodation,  such  a  breakfast  as  he  would  have 
been  content  to  furnish  at  his  own  quarters  for  the 
most  honored  visiter. 

The  spy,  who  had  learned  little  of  his  profession 
but  that  self-indulgent  art  which  is  technically  called 
"  playing  old  soldier,"  had  been  in  no  haste  to  leave 
his  rest,  and  Witt,  who  understood  Schwartz's  game, 
did  not  hurry  him.  The  breakfast  hour,  therefore, 
had  fully  arrived  before  he  made  his  appearance.  He 
came  accompanied  by  Witt  and  another  of  his  party ; 


304  The  Partisan   Leader. 

and,  in  appearance  and  manners,  fully  answered  the 
description  of  him  given  by  Schwartz.  He  was  a  tall, 
red-haired  man,  vain,  pert,  and  full  of  self-complacency. 
Indeed,  so  much  did  he  display  of  a  satisfaction,  at 
once  chuckling  and  childish,  that  Douglas,  even 
though  unwarned,  must  have  suspected  treachery. 
Besides,  he  never  could  have  believed  a  being,  mani 
festly  so  frivolous  and  foolish,  capable  of  the  high  pur 
pose  of  devoting  himself  to  a  life  of  toil,  hardship,  and 
danger.  The  vain  and  self-indulgent  may  receive 
momentary  impulses,  under  the  influence  of  which 
brilliant  achievements  may  be  suddenly  accomplished ; 
but  from  such  the  tasks  of  study,  virtue,  and  enduring 
courage,  must  never  be  expected. 

He  seemed,  at  first,  more  intent  upon  his  breakfast 
than  anything  else,  and  when  it  appeared,  made  faces 
at  his  coarse  fare  which  ill  accorded  with  his -professed 
indifference  to  all  personal  inconvenience.  But,  bad 
as  it  was,  he  contrived  to  swallow  enough  to  show 
that  he  was  not  prepared  to  play  the  ascetic  any  more 
in  regard  to  the  quantity  than  the  quality  of  his  food* 

"  You  see,"  said  Douglas,  "  the  life  we  lead.  If  you 
are  not  prepared  to  submit  cheerfully  to  privations, 
compared  to  which  what  you  see  here  is  luxury,  you 
should  not  join  us." 

"  Damn  luxury,"  said  the  other.  "  What  do  I  care 
about  luxury  ?  To  be  sure,  I  have  been  used  to  it  all 
rny  life ;  coffee  or  tea,  one,  every  morning  for  break 
fast  ;  and  good  light  bread,  and  potatoes,  and  pies  ; 
and  then,  for  dinner,  pork  or  fresh  meat,  or  codfish,  at 


The  Partisan  Leader.  305 

least  every  day  in  the  week,  and  all  sorts  of  sass,  and 
then  pies  again,  and  cheese,  a#d  all  that.  But  I  am 
ready  to  give  it  all  up  to  serve  my  country,  and  live 
as  hard  as  any  body." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  said  Douglas,  drawing 
some  papers  from  his  pocket.  Among  these  he 
affected  to  search  in  vain  for  a  particular  paper,  and 
in  doing  so,  carelessly  threw  on  the  table  the  letter 
endorsed  with  the  name  Job  Dixon.  He  saw  that  it 
caught  the  other's  eyes,  and,  expressing  some  dissatis 
faction  at  his  own  carelessness,  said :  "  You  have  a 
right  to  know,  before  you  join  us,  all  about  our  force, 
and  I  ought  to  show  you  my  last  return ;  but  I  have 
it  not  at  hand,  though  I  believe  I  know  pretty  well 
the  number  of  my  men.  But  stay,"  continued  he, 
interrupting  himself  with  a  start,  and  looking  at  the 
gallant  Captain  with  a  keenness  that  made  his  very 
back  ache,  "  how  came  you  by  my  pass- words,  sir?" 

"  I  got  them  from  a  man  they  call  Job  Dixon," 
replied  the  trembling  Captain. 

"  Job  Dixon  !"  replied  Douglas,  immediately  resum 
ing  his  complacency  ;  "  then  all  is  right." 

"  O  yes !  all  is  right,"  said  the  other,  recovering 
from  his  alarm,  but  more  fluttered  and  confused  than 
ever.  "  He  told  me  that  wa'nt  his  name,  sure  enough, 
and  he  said  that  name  was  only  a  sort  of  a  countersign 
to  you." 

It  cost  Douglas  some  effort  to  suppress  a  smile  at 
seeing  the  delicate  and  dangerous  office  of  a  spy 
undertaken  by  one  so  destitute  of  all  the  qualities 


306  The  Partisan  Leader. 

necessary  to  it ;   but  he  commanded  himself,  and 
asked  whether  the  other  was  now  content  to  join  him. 

"  To  be  sure  I  am,"  said  he  ;  "  and  not  only  I,  but 
fifty  more  as  good  fellows  as  ever  stepped  shoe- 
leather.  You  see,  that  was  what  I  doubted  about. 
I  thought  may  be  as  I  had  such  a  company,  I  had  a 
right  to  set  up  for  myself;  but  after  I  heard  all  about 
you  from  that  man,  Job  Dixon,  or  whatever  else 
his  name  is,  I  made  up  my  mind  to  join  you." 

"  Where  are  your  men  ?"  asked  Douglas. 

"They  are  all  about  home  yet,"  said  the  Captain, 
"  but  I  can  bring  them  together  any  day,  and  any 
place  you  please  to  name.  I  suppose  you  don't 
mean  to  stay  up  here  in  the  mountains  all  the  time, 
and  may  be  it  might  suit  as  well  for  me  to  fall  in 
with  you  somewhere." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  Douglas,  "  We  are  not  so 
well  off  here  for  rations,  as  to  want  any  body  before 
we  have  use  for  them.  As  long  as  we  stay  here  we 
are  strong  enough.  A  regiment-  of  men  could  not 
climb  the  Devil's  Back-bone  before  our  faces.  But 
I  propose  to  move  shortly,  and  should  be  glad  of  a 
reinforcement  on  the  way.  What  county  are  your 
men  in  ?" 

"  In  Bedford  county,"  replied  the  other,  repeating 
his  lesson  exactly. 

"  That  will  do,  then,"  said  Douglas.  "  I  propose 
to  march  agaipst  Mason,  at  Lyncbburg,  early  in 
November,  and  on  the  fifth  day  of  the  month  I  will 
meet  vou  at  Jones's  Ford,  on  Staunton  river." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  307 

"  I  cannot  say  that  I  know  exactly  where  that  is," 
said  the  spy. 

"  It  is  little  out  of  your  way  into  any  part  of  Bed 
ford  county,"  said  Douglas  ;  "  and  as  I  want  to  see 
some  of  our  friends  down  in  that  quarter,  I  will  ride 
there  with  you.  I  am  told  Mason  is  pretty  strong, 
and  I  want  to  get  all  the  force  I  can,  and  that  is  not 
so  much  but  what  I  shall  be  glad  of  your  help." 

"  How  many  men  have  you  ?"  asked  the  Yankee 
Captain. 

"  I  have  but  a  handful  here,  just  now  ;  but  I  am 
sending  out  orders  for  more  to  join  on  the  route,  and 
I  am  in  hopes  to  reach  the  river  with  four  hundred 
at  least.  I  shall  stay  there,  at  all  events,  till  more 
come  in ;  because  it  would  be  foolish  to  attack 
Mason's  regiment  with  less  than  five  or  six  hundred." 

"  That  will  do,"  said  the  other ;  "  for  Mason  is 
not  more  than  four  hundred  strong." 

"  Indeed !"  replied  Douglas,  affecting  surprise 
and  pleasure.  "  Then  I  am  pretty  sure  of  him.  I 
had  heard  as  much  before,  but  I  don't  trust  every 
body.  I  was  afraid  there  was  a  trap  set  for  me ;  but 
now  I  am  satisfied,  and  if  I  can  leave  Staunton  river 
with  six  hundred  men,  I  shall  gather  force  enough 
before  I  get  to  Lynchburg  to  drive  Mason  and  his 
regiment  before  me  like  chaff." 

Having  said  this,  Douglas  set  about  the  necessary 
arrangements  for  accompanying  his  new  acquaint 
ance  to  Jones's  Ford.  As  the  distance  was  too 
great  for  one  day,  he  proposed  to  pass  the  night  at 


308  The  Partisan  Leader. 

the  house  of  a  trusty  friend,  from  whence  the  Yankee 
officer  would  have  it  in  his  power  to  reach  a  tavern, 
two  miles  beyond  the  river,  the  next  day.  He  now 
despatched  a  note  to  Arthur,  saying  that  he  wished 
to  examine  the  ground  at  the  river,  in  company  with 
him  and  Schwartz.  He  therefore  directed  them  to 
follow  at  a  cautious  distance,  so  as  not  to  be  seen 
by  the  spy ;  to  pass  them  in  the  night,  and  take  up 
their  quarters  at  a  house  in  advance,  and  the  next 
day  proceed  to  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Gordon  (a 
staunch  friend),  near  the  river,  and  wait  for  him 
there.  Meantime  a  horse,  that  stood  piqueted  hard 
by,  was  saddled,  and  Douglas  set  out,  accompanied 
by  the  treacherous  Captain  and  the  faithful  Witt. 

The  journey  was  made  without  any  occurrence 
worth  noting.  In  the  conversation  of  the  stranger 
there  was  nothing  to  beguile  Douglas  from  his  own 
thoughts.  The  vain  babble  of  the  prating  coxcomb 
was  all  wasted  on  the  impenetrable  Witt ;  and,  after 
a  few  fruitless  attempts  to  overcome  the  taciturnity 
of  his  companions,  he  followed  their  example,  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  journey  was  made  in  silence. 
Late  on  the  second  evening  they  reached  the  river. 
The  spy  was  directed  to  the  public-house  on  the 
other  side,  and  Douglas  and  Witt  returned  to  Mr. 
Gordon's,  where  they  found  Arthur  and  Schwartz. 

As  they  were  now  in  a  land  of  civilization  and 
comfort,  Douglas  was  not  sorry  to  obtain,  once  more, 
a  good  night's  lodging,  which  his  hospitable  friend 
was  delighted  to  afford.  But  this  rare  enjoyment  did 


The*  Partisan  Leader.  309 

not  make  him  forgetful  of  the  necessity  of  watching 
the  motions  of  his  enemy.  He  accordingly  despatched 
a  scout  to  the  house  to  which  the  Yankee  had  been 
directed,  to  make  sure  that  he  had  gone  on. 

At  a  late  hour  the  man  returned,  and  roused 
Douglas  to  inform  him  that  the  spy  had  indeed  gone 
as  far  as  he  had  intended,  and  that  he  had  there 
fallen  in  with  a  party  of  a  dozen  dragoons,  com 
manded  by  a  subaltern,  who  were  on  a  scout  through 
the  country.  With  this  officer  he  had  been  seen  to  be 
engaged  in  private  and  earnest  conversation,  and 
orders  had  been  issued  to  the  men  to  look  well  to 
the  condition  of  their  arms,  and  to  be  in  readiness 
to  move  at  day-light. 

It  at  once  occurred  to  Douglas  that  a  new  scheme 
had  entered  the  head  of  the  vain  and  frivolous  being 
who  had  thrust  himself  into  an  affair  requiring 
qualities  so  different.  It  was  probable  that  he  wished 
to  avail  himself  of  the  presence  of  this  little  party  to 
endeavor  to  surprise  his  enemy,  whom  he  had  reason 
to  believe  to  be  still  near  the  Ford.  The  folly  of  risk 
ing  the  defeat  of  his  favorite  enterprise  by  joining  in 
the  attempt,  and  thus  throwing  off  his  mask,  was  not 
likely  to  occur  to  him.  The  question  with  Douglas 
was,  whether  by  abiding  the  attack  he  should  afford 
the  bungling  fool,  whom  he  had  been  leading  into 
his  own  trap,  a  chance  to  escape  from  it  by  his  own 
blunder.  In  this  apprehension,  however,  he  did  not 
give  that  worthy  due  credit  for  his  discretion.  He 
had  indeed  considered  Douglas  as  his  proper  prey ; 


31  o  The  Partisan  Leader. 

and  though  he  had  been  unable  to  restrain  his  dispo 
sition  to  babble,  he  sorely  repented  his  indiscretion, 
when  he  found  the  other  officer  disposed  to  antici 
pate  him.  He  had  accordingly  earnestly  dissuaded 
him  from  attempting  any  thing  ;  and,  not  prevailing 
in  this,  had  determined  to  go  on  alone,  and  leave 
the  other  to  execute  his  project  as  he  might. 

But  though  uncertain  what  might  be  the  conduct 
of  the  spy,  Douglas  could  not  resist  his  inclination  to 
throw  himself  in  the  way  of  the  expected  attack.  It 
was  necessary  that  he  should  examine  the  ground 
carefully,  and  he  had  not  time  to  wait  until  the  scout 
ing  party  should  have  left  the  neighborhood.  Besides, 
he  was  anxious  to  inform  himself  precisely  of  the  force 
and  position  of  the  enemy,  and  the  name  of  their  new 
commander.  For  this  purpose  he  was  eager  to  make 
at  least  one  prisoner.  And,  after  all,  perhaps  not  the 
least  moving  consideration,  was  his  desire  to  taste 
once  more  the  stormy  joy  of  battle. 

Upon  the  whole,  he  determined  to  turn  the  tables 
on  his  enemy,  if  possible ;  and,  instead  of  returning  to 
bed,  prepared  immediately  for  action.  All  things 
were  soon  ready.  The  master  of  the  house,  his  two 
sons,  and  three  of  the  neighbors,  who,  hearing  that 
he  was  there,  had  called  to  see  him,  added  to  his  own 
party,  made  a  force  of  ten  men,  with  which  he  was 
not  afraid  to  abide  the  attack  of  thirteen.  At  the 
nead  of  these  he  took  the  road,  and  by  daylight  had 
occupied  the  ground  where  he  wished  to  meet  the 
enemy. 


The  Partisan  Leader  311 

At  the  point  of  which  we  speak,  the  road,  after 
passing  for  some  miles  over  a  broad  and  level  ridge, 
at  the  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  river, 
dives  suddenly  into  a  steep  defile  between  two  hills. 
The  descent  is  rapid,  and,  in  less  than  a  hundred 
yards,  the  hills  come  down  abruptly  on  either  hand, 
leaving  between  them  barely  space  enough  for  the 
road,  which  is  quite  narrow.  They  are  steep,  rugged, 
with  projecting  rocks,  and  altogether  impracticable  to 
cavalry;  and  are  moreover  covered  with  a  heavy 
growth  of  timber  and  brushwood.  At  the  distance  of 
about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  plain  above,  the 
road  turns  sharp  to  the  right.  It  then  pursues  a  coarse 
nearly  direct,  for  a  like  distance ;  and  then,  turning 
short  to  the  left,  the  river,  ford,  and  the  opposite 
landing,  are  at  once  in  full  view. 

A  point  a  little  below  the  first  mentioned  bend  was 
selected  by  Douglas  for  his  position.  He  posted  Witt 
and  three  others  on  one  side  of  the  road,  behind  rocks 
and  trees,  while  he,  Arthur,  and  one  more,  disposed 
themselves,  in  like  manner,  on  the  other.  Schwartz, 
with  the  rest,  passed  through  the  defile,  with  orders  to 
hide  themselves  near  the  bank,  and  let  the  enemy  pass 
without  interruption.  A  pole  had  been  thrown  across 
the  road,  some  twenty  yards  in  front  of  Douglas  and 
his  party.  The  crossing  of  this,  by  the  enemy,  was  to 
be  the  signal  for  firing.  The  officer  was  designated 
to  be  the  mark  of  Witt.  The  right  and  left  hand  man 
of  the  leading  file,  had  each  his  appropriate  execu 
tioner  appointed ;  then  the  two  next,  and  then  two 

6 


312  The  Partisan  Leader. 

more,  were  in  like  manner  foredoomed,  so  that  no  shot 
should  be  thrown  away.  While  these  arrangements 
were  making,  Arthur  bethought  him  of  Schwartz's 
lecture  on  tactics,  and  was  at  once  sensible  of  the  vast 
superiority  of  untaught  courage  and  sagacity,  on  occa 
sions  like  this,  over  the  sort  of  discipline  on  which  the 
martinet  is  so  apt  to  pride  himself. 

About  sunrise,  the  enemy  appeared,  consisting,  as 
the  scout  had  said,  of  a  dozen  men,  under  the  com 
mand  of  a  single  officer. .  To  the  great  relief  of  Dou 
glas,  the  redoubtable  Yankee  Captain  was  not  with 
them.  As  the  hill  was  steep,  they'advanced  in  a  walk, 
while  the  officer,  who  was  in  the  rear,  occasionally 
turned  his  horse's  head  to  the  hill,  seeming  to  examine 
for  some  recess  in  which  his  party  might  draw  aside, 
and  form  a  sort  of  ambuscade.  But  there  was  no  such 
spot.  The  ground  was  every  where  too  steep  for  caval 
ry  ;  and,  disappointed,  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and 
pushed  forward  to  resume  his  place  at  the  head  of  the 
party.  They  were  now  near  the  fatal  point ;  every 
rifle  was  in  rest,  and  duly  levelled  at  its  mark,  and  in 
the  moment  that  the  leading  file  were  crossing  the 
pole,  six  saddles  were  emptied,  and  six  horses  ran 
masterless.  The  aim  of  Witt  at  the  officer,  who  was 
much  more  distant,  and  moving  rapidly,  was  less  fatal. 
But  his  ball  took  effect,  as  was  plainly  shown  by  the 
sword  arm,  which,  at  the  moment,  fell  powerless.  The 
men  went  to  the  right-about  in  a  moment,  and  a  shout, 
which  the  echoes  of  the  steep  gorge  multiplied  into. 
a  hundred  voices,  sent  them  down  the  hill  at  full  speed. 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


3»3 


The  officer,  though  wounded,  was  not  quite  so 
ready  to  take  to  his  heels,  and  called  to  his  men  to 
halt.  With  all  but  one,  he  succeeded ;  but  that  one, 
wild  with  terror,  dashed  on.  In  the  mean  time, 
Schwartz  and  his  little  party  had  planted  themselves 
in  the  road,  near  the  river,  and  their  array  was  the 
first  object  that  met  the  eye  of  the  affrighted  soldier 
as  he  turned  the  angle  of  the  road.  But  panic  is  as 
apt  to  hurry  a  man  into  danger  as  away  from  it,  and 
the  sight  of  this  new  enemy  only  urged  the  poor 
wretch  to  a  more  desperate  effort  to  escape,  by  break 
ing  by  them.  In  vain  did  the  men  throw  up  their  arms, 
and  call  to  him  to  stop.  He  rushed  on,  right  upon 
Schwartz,  who  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  and 
who,  as  a  dernier  ressort,  stopped  his  career  with  a  bul 
let.  The  report  of  his  rifle,  and  a  glimpse  of  Dou 
glas's  men  advancing  along  the  side  of  the  hill  to  get 
Mrithin  shot,  decided  the  officer  that  it  was  time  to  look 
to  his  safety.  Turning  the  angle  of  the  road,  he  saw 
the  fate  of  his  fallen  soldief,  and  the  cause  of  it. 
Immediately  calling  on  his  men  to  follow,  he  dashed 
on  with  an  impetuosity  which  showed  a  determination 
to  force  a  passage  or  perish. 

The  result  was  inevitably.  Schwartz  was  in  the 
act  of  loading  his  rifle.  The  other  three  levelled 
theirs.  They  had  not  been  trained  in  Schwartz's 
school  of  tactics,  and  all  three,  attracted  by  the  epau 
lette  and  plume  and  sash  of  the  officer,  fired  at 
him.  He  fell  dead,  and  the  rest,  perceiving  their 
advantage,  rushed  on  the  mountaineers,  who,  of 


314  The  Partisan  Leader. 

necessity,  sprang  aside,  and  let  them  pass.  One  of 
them  was  not  so  nimble,  but  that,  as  he  clambered 
up  the  rocky  face  of  the  hill,  a  sweeping  back-handed 
stroke  inflicted  a  deep  gash  in  the  back  part  of  his 
thigh.  This  was  the  only  injury  received  by  the 
party  of  Douglas  in  the  affair,  and  dearly  did  it  cost 
the  man  who  gave  it.  Schwartz  marked  him,  and 
coolly  went  on  loading  his  rifle.  By  the  time  he  had 
effected  this,  the  soldier  was  half  way  across  the 
river,  and,  the  next  moment,  tumbled  from  his  horse, 
and  went  floating  down  the  stream.  The  other  five 
gained  the  shore  before  another  rifle  could  be  loaded, 
and  doubling  a  rocky  point  around  which  the  road 
turned,  disappeared. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  315 


CHAPTEE   XXXY. 

THIS  victory,,  though  on  a  small  scale,  was  com 
plete  in  itself.  It  was  a  favorable  omen,  too,  and 
might  serve  as  a  sort  of  rehearsal  of  the  more  im 
portant  battle  to  be  fought  on  the  same  ground.  Tn 
one  thing  only  Douglas  had  been  disappointed,  by 
the  eagerness  of  Schwartz's  men.  He  had  made 
no  prisoners,  and  the  fallen  enemy  were  all  either 
dead,  or  not  in  condition  to  be  harassed  by  such 
questions  as  he  wished  to  ask.  They  were  necessa 
rily  committed  to  the  care  of  such  of  the  party  as 
lived  in  the  neighborhood ;  and  their  horses  and  arms 
being  secured,  were  placed  in  the  same  hands  for 
safe  keeping. 

The  feelings  of  Arthur,  as  he  looked  on  this  fearful 
scene  of  slaughter,  were  such  as  might  be  expected 
to  possess  the  mind  of  a  youth,  who,  as  yet,  had 
never  seen  the  blood  of  man  shed  in  strife.  But 
these  are  nothing  to  the  purpose  of  my  tale.  It  is 
enough  to  say,  that  the  contemplation  of  it  wrought 
the  usual  change  in  his  character.  He  now  felt  that 
to  kill  or  be  killed  was  the  order  of  the  day ;  and, 
though  his  next  sleep  was  haunted  by  visions  of  the 
ghastly  objects  that  lay  before  him,  he  awoke  from 


31 6  The  Partisan  Leader. 

it  with,  a  mind  prepared  for  the  stern  duties  of 
war. 

Requesting  the  company  and  advice  of  his  host, 
Douglas  now  proceeded  to  examine  the  ground.  He 
found  the  river  hills  every  where  intersected,  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  by  ravines  such  as  that  I 
have  described.  The  ford  was  shallow,  but  just 
above  was  deep  water,  which,  on  -the 'north  side, 
came  down  quite  near  to  the  gravel  bar,  which  served 
as  a  dam.  Here  a  steep  and  high  rock  bounded  the 
river,  and  along  the  base  of  it,  the  water  eddied  in  a 
deep  pool,  and  then  swept  away  in  a  strong  but 
shallow  current.  At  a  short  distance  below  was 
the  mouth  of  a  ravine,  overgrown  with  lofty  trees, 
and  clustering  with  brushwood,  at  a  distance  of  fifty 
yards  from  the  landing  place.  The  road,  issuing 
from  the  river  at  the  foot  of  the  rock,  holds  a  straight 
course  for  twenty  yards,  or  thereabouts,  and  then 
turning  short  to  the  left,  is  no  more  in  sight  of  the 
river.  From  thence  a  short  but  steep  ascent  through 
a  deep  cleft  in  the  hills,  brings  the  traveller  to  the 
top,  where  he  turns  again  to  the  right,  and  resumes 
the  direction  towards  Lynchburg.  After  a  thorough 
examination  of  the  whole,  the  party  returned  to 
breakfast  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Gordon. 

Douglas  rode  slowly  and  thoughtfully.  At  length 
lie  said  apart  to  Schwartz : 

"  Your  plot  is  admirable ;  but  I  am  afraid  it  will 
fail." 

"  What  chance  of  that  ?"  asked  Schwartz.    "  They 


The  Partisan  Leader.  317 

will  be  ashamed  to  bring  more  than  a  thousand  men 
against  you,  even  if  they  had  them.  "We  can  raise 
as  many  as  they  can,  and  we  shall  be  on  the  ground, 
and  have  the  same  advantage  we  had  just  now." 

"  But  suppose  they  come  and  take  possession 
first,"  said  Douglas. 

"  Oh  !  no  danger  of  that.  They'll  be  in  no  hurry 
to  leave  their  snug  quarters  any  sooner  than  they 
can  help ;  and  we  can  be  here  a  day  or  two  before 
the  time." 

"It  may  be  so,"  said  Douglas;  "but  I  don't 
think  Col.  Mason  takes  me  for  an  absolute  fool ;  and 
if  he  does,  he  has  reason  to  know  that  I  have  sharp- 
witted  men  about  me.  But  any  man's  wits  may  fail 
him  sometimes.  For  example,  it  has  never  occurred 
to  either  of  us,  that  Mason  will  certainly  not  believe 
that  we  have  been  fooled  by  such  a  fellow  as  this 
Yankee  of  yours.  Will  he  not,  therefore,  at  once 
suspect  the  truth,  and  conclude  that 'we  are  trying 
to  catch  him  in  his  own  trap  ?" 

"  Egad  !"  said  Schwartz,  "  that  is  true.  I  had 
not  thought  of  that.  The  fellow  is  too  silly  to  be 
made  bait  of,  sure  enough.  But  then,  you  see, 
Captain,  we  can  fix  them  any  how.  Mr.  Gordon 
here  can  raise  men  enough,  in  three  days,  to  keep 
them  from  crossing  the  river,  until  we  are  ready  for 
them ;  and  then  you  know,  we  can  push  across  a 
part  of  our  men,  and  toll  them  over.  If  once  we 
get  them  into  a  right  sharp  fight,  they'll  follow  us 
across  the  river  fast  enough." 


318  The  Partisan  Leader 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  their  coming  to  look  for  us,'' 
said  Douglas ;  "  and  no  doubt  of  a  fight ;  but  we 
must  be  prepared  to  meet  more  men  than  we  have 
bargained  for.  Depend  upon  it,  they  will  bring 
every  man  they  can  raise.  Why,  would  you  believe 
it,  the  fellow  talked  to  me  about  living  at  home  on 
codfish,  and  potatoes,  and  cider,  and  pies,  and  all 
sorts  of  sass?  Such  a  simpleton  could  not  impose 
on  a  child.  Col.  Mason  has  talents  worthy  of  a 
better  cause,  and  he  will  see  through  the  whole  affair. 
I  suppose  he  is  superseded ;  but  'he  is  an  honorable 
man,  and  will  frankly  give  the  benefit  of  his  suspi 
cions  to  his  superior,  who  can  hardly  be  such  a  fool 
as  to  disregard  his  suggestions.  We  must  bestir 
ourselves,  therefore,  or  give  up  the  game  and  escape 
from  our  own  plot. 

"  Gentlemen,"  continued  Douglas,  speaking  aloud, 
and  in  a  sustained  and  decisive  tone,  "  this  is  our 
place  of  rendezvous ;  the  time  mid-day  on  the  third 
of  November.  Every  man  must  come  prepared  for 
action,  and  such  as  mean  to  accompany  me  to  the 
lower  country,  must  bring  with  them  all  their  neces 
saries.  Mr.  Gordon,  I  must  depend  on  you  to  hold 
this  pass,  and  keep  the  enemy  from  crossing  the 
river.  I  shall  send  a  force  to  support  you,  if  neces 
sary.  You,  Schwartz,  know  what  to  do  better  than 
I  can  tell  you.  You,  Witt,  will  return  with  me,  arid 
we  will  talk  as  we  ride,  of  what  is  to  be  done.  Mr. 
Gordon,  we  could  travel  without  food,  but  our  horses 
cannot.  We  must  trouble  you  for  something  for  all, 


The  Partisan  Leader*  319 

and  then  we  part  until  the  day  of  rendezvous.  Until 
that  time,  '  Vigilance  and  Activity'  is  the  word ;  but 
then,  i  FREEDOM,  INDEPENDENCE,  and  GLORY.'  ': 

As  Douglas  said  this  they  arrived  at  Mr.  Gordon's 
door.  The  ready  meal  was  hastily  swallowed,  the 
horses  fed,  and  they  departed  for  the  camp.  On  the 
way  Schwartz,  turning  to  the  left,  kept  a  southward 
course  through  the  district,  along  the  foot  of  the 
mountains,  to  rouse  the  inhabitants  in  that  quarter, 
and  to  collect  a  party  to  support  Mr.  Gordon.  The 
rest  returned  to  the  camp,  from  whence  runners 
were  despatched  throughout  all  the  adjacent  coun 
try,  and  even  beyond  the  mountain  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  Holston.  Leaving  them  thus  em 
ployed,  let  us  repair  to  the  head-quarters  of  the 
enemy. 

In  the  handsome  parlor  of  a  handsome  house,  in 
the  suburbs  of  Lynchburg,  we  find  two  officers 
seated  at  a  game  of  piquet.  The  hour  is  nine  at 
night.  The  room  is  richly  furnished.  A  bright  fire 
burns  on  the  hearth,  and  the  blaze  of  sconce  and 
astral  lamps  sheds  its  soft,  luxurious,  moonlight 
beams  into  every  corner.  "Wine,  cordials,  fruits, 
and  cigars,  are  placed  on  a  table,  and  every  thing 
betokens  comfort  and  luxury,  ease  and  indolence. 
The  dress  of  these  officers  corresponds  with  the 
scene.  Both  glitter  with  gold  and  flutter  in  lace, 
and  their  richly  mounted  swords  and  highly  finished 
pistols,  which  lie  on  the  table,  show  that  the  owners 
abound  in  the  means  of  display  and  self-indulgence. 


320  The  Partisan  Leader. 

Such  was  indeed  the  fact.  The  pay  of  the  army, 
gradually  increased  by  law  during  thirty  years,  had 
grown  to  a  noble  revenue.  The  emoluments,  as  they 
are  called,  under  a  system  of  fraud  and  connivance, 
had  advanced  (without  law)  yet  more  rapidly  ;  so 
that  to  be  a  Colonel  in  the  army  of  the  United  States 
was  to  be  a  rich  man.  Such  was  the  rank  of  both 
these  officers.  It  was  true  that  the  treasury  had 
already  begun  to  feel  the  drain  of  the  vast  sums 
accumulated  under  an  iniquitous  tariff,  and  now 
employed  to  fortify  the  tyranny  that  had  enforced 
that  pernicious  system.  The  loss  of  the  southern 
trade  gave  reason  to  fear  that  the  supply  now  on 
hand,  if  once  exhausted,  would  not  be  speedily 
renewed.  But  the  rulers  felt  but  the  more  sensibly 
that  the  energetic  employment  both  of  force  and 
corruption  was  necessary  to  retain  the  little  that 
remained,  by  holding  Virginia  in  subjection.  With 
this  view,  the  same  system  of  wasteful  expenditure, 
commenced  twenty  years  before,  was  kept  up  ;  and 
all  who  served  the  crown  with  becoming  zeal  were 
encouraged  to  hold  open  their  mouths  that  they 
might  be  filled. 

In  another  part  of  the  room  a  company  of  subal 
terns  fluttered  around  a  bevy  of  fair  damsels.  To 
these  young  ladies  the  mistress  of  this  mansion  had 
of  late  become  an  ohject  of  much  increased  regard. 
."No  friend  was  so  dear,  no  society  so  desirable,  no 
house  so  pleasant  to  visit  at  as  hers.  Many  an  extra 
visit  did  she  receive,  since  the  abounding  loyalty  of 


The  Partisan  Leader.  321 

her  husband  had  invited  the  commandant  of  the  post 
to  make  it  his  head-quarters.  Many  a  wistful  glance 
had  been  cast  during  the  evening,  from  the  assiduous 
subalterns,  toward  the  handsome  and  unheeding 
wearer  of  two  epaulettes,  to  whose  authority  all  who 
approached  him  were  bound  to  bow.  But  it  was  all 
in  vain.  Sufficient  to  himself,  he  valued  not  the 
admiring  eyes  which  were  bent  upon  him  ;  or  if  they 
occupied  any  thing  of  his  attention,  it  was  to  be 
made  the  subject  of  invidious  comparison  with  the 
ladies  of  the  highest  fashion  in  the  northern  cities, 
whose  lavish  attentions  had  rendered  him  totally 
heedless  of  the  vulgar  admiration  of  a  parcel  of  hall- 
bred  Virginia  girls. 

These  remarks,  however,  apply  to  only  one  of  the 
officers  in  question.  The  other  manifested  no  such 
insensibility,  though  his  attentions  to  the  fair  were 
only  marked  by  a  staid  courtesy,  hardly  more  flat 
tering  than  the  perfect  indifference  of  his  companion. 
Still  he  paid  such  attention  as  it  becomes  a  gentle 
man  to  pay  to  every  thing  that  wears  the  exterior  of 
a  lady.  But  the  day  when  he  was  himself  an  object 
of  court  to  them  was  past.  Indeed,  the  ladies  had 
already  begun  to  despair  of  thawing  the  coldness  of 
his  temperament,  when  being  superseded  by  a 
younger  and  handsomer  commander,  he  was  laid  on 
the  shelf  and  condemned  as  quite  passe. 

But  it  is  high  time  to  make  the  reader  acquainted 
with  the  two  military  gentlemen,  to  whose  presence 
he  has  been  introduced. 


322  The  Partisan  Leader. 

The  reader,  without  doubt,  already  understands 
that,  of  the  two  officers  before  us,  the  elder  in  years, 
though  the  younger  in  commission,  is  Col.  Mason, 
late  commandant  of  the  post.  His  companion  is 
Col.  Owen  Trevor,  whose  impatience  for  distinction 
has  been  indulged  by  sending  him  to  Lynchburg 
with  his  regiment.  Here,  taking  rank  of  Mason,  he 
has  been  in  fact  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade, 
wTith  an  understanding  that  time  and  opportunity 
will  be  afforded  him  to  show  himself  qualified  for  the 
rank,  by  discharging  the  functions  of  a  brigadier. 
This  post  has  been  assigned  him  because  in  this 
direction  is  the  only  enemy  actually  in  arms. 

Although  the  force  under  the  command  of  Douglas 
had  been  originally  but  a  handful,  Mason  had  seen 
that  it  possessed,  in  a  marvellous  degree,  the  faculty 
of  occasional  expansion.  His  intelligence  had  taught 
him  to  expect  that,  it  would  ere  long  be  greatly 
increased,  if  not  crushed  by  a  vigorous  movement 
on  his  part.  Hence  he  was  desirous  of  acting  on  the 
offensive,  especially  as  he  had  no  doubt,  from  the 
past,  that  Lynchburg  was  the  object  of  Douglas.  But 
he  had  seen  enough  of  the  character  and  resources 
of  his  enemy  to  know  that  a  small  force  would  be 
unavailing,  and  had  therefore  earnestly  desired  to 
be  reinforced.  In  answer  to  this  request  he  had 
Deceived,  not  the  moderate  aid  that  he  had  desired, 
but  an  order  to  surrender  his  command  to  Col. 
Trevor,  whose  well-appointed  regiment  was  ordered 
to  the  post. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  323 

Col.  Mason  was  a  man  of  honor  and  talent.  He 
was  one  of  the  many  subjects  of  that  strong  delusion 
which  had  so  extensively  prevailed ;  and,  under  the 
influence  of  which,  Virginia,  for  thirty  years,  had 
been  sacrificing  the  substance  of  liberty  and  pros 
perity  to  the  forms  of  a  constitution  devised  to 
secure,  but  perverted  to  destroy  them.  He  belonged, 
moreover,  to  that  unfortunate  class  of  partisans  whom 
it  is  safe  to  neglect.  Acting  on  principles,  however 
erroneous,  it  was  clearly  seen  that  these  alone  were 
sufficient  to  bind  him  to  the  service  to  which  he  had 
devoted  himself.  It  was  at  the  same  time  little 
doubted  that  a  change  of  opinions  would  be  followed 
by  a  renunciation  of  all  the  advantages  of  his  situa 
tion,  whatever  they  might  be.  To  waste  on  such  a 
man  the  means  of  corrupting  the  corruptible,  and 
securing  the  faithless,  would  indeed  have  been 
"ridiculous  excess."  He  had- won  his  way  to  his 
present  rank  by  the  strict  performance  of  every  duty 
of  the  subordinate  offices,  through  which  he  had 
risen  by  regular  gradation.  In  the  shuffling  and 
cutting  of  the  military  pack,  he  had  seen  junior 
officers  placed  above  him  by  that  sort  of  legerde 
main  which  had  so  long  before  procured  his  master 
the  name  of  the  magician.  He  had  not  indeed 
acquiesced  tamely  in  this,  but  means  had  been 
always  found  to  soothe  him,  and  he  had  been 
retained  in  the  service  by  dexterous  appeals  to  that 
magnanimity  which  they  who  knew  not  how  to 
appreciate,  yet  knew  well  how  to  play  upon. 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


But  lie  had  not  yet  forgotten  how,  ten  years 
before,  some  pretext  had  been  found  for  reversing 
the  relative  rank  of  himself  and  Col.  Trevor,  when 
both  were  very  young  and  both  subalterns.  But  on 
that  occasion,  as  usual,  some  complimentary  though 
temporary  arrangement  had  been  devised  to  recon 
cile  him  to  that  which  gave  the  rank  of  Captain  to 
one,  whom  he,  still  a  Lieutenant,  had  once  com 
manded.  Having  repressed  his  dissatisfaction  at 
that  time,  he  now  felt  bound  to  acquiesce  in  the 
circumstances  which  placed  his  former  subordinate 
immediately  in  authority  over  him.  If  this  occur 
rence  made  him  repent  his  former  tameness,  now 
when  it  was  too  late  to  remonstrate,  he  did  not  say 
so,  but  addressed  himself  with  grave  precision  to 
the  fulfilment  of  all  his  commander's  orders. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  325 


CHAPTEE    XXXVI. 

Fortuna  nimium  quern  fovet,  stultum  facit. 

COLONEL  TREVOR  was  the  spoiled  child  of  fortune 
and  patronage.  He  was  old  enough  to  remember  his 
father's  rise  in  life.  Hence,  in  estimating  his  conse 
quence  in  society,  he  had  formed  a  habit  of  comparing 
him  with  the  class  from  which  he  sprung,  and  not 
with  that  more  intellectual  order  of  men,  in  which  he 
had  at  last  found  his  proper  place,  and  where  he  had 
long  remained  stationary  in  well  ascertained  equality. 
This  circumstance  alone  made  an  important  difference 
between  him  and  his  younger  brothers.  The  sort  of 
retrospect  with  which  he  was  most  familiar  teaches 
any  thing  but  humility,  however  it  may  impress  that 
lesson  on  the  mind  that  has  already  learned  it. 

In  the  commencement  of  Col.  Trevor's  military 
career,  the  approbation  of  his  father  had  been  of 
more  consequence  to  the  usurper  than  now,  when  his 
throne  stood  strong  on  its  own  foundations.  The 
character  of  that  worthy  gentleman,  too,  had  been 
less  understood.  The  President  had  not  been  aware 
how  absolutely  the  convictions  of  his  own  mind  and 
his  high  sense  of  duty  supplied  the  place  of  those 
douceurs,  the  frequent  repetition  and  continued  ex- 


326  The  Partisan  Leader. 

pectation  of  which  is  necessary  to  bind  the  faith  of 
the  unprincipled.  Before  this  discovery  was  made, 
Col.  Trevor  had  been  already  advanced  to  a  rank, 
and  invested  with  an  adventitious  consequence, 
which  made  it  important  to  cultivate  him  on  his  own 
account.  His  early  training  had  taught  him  the 
grand  maxim  of  the  court :  u  Nothing  ask,  nothing 
have."  He  had  discovered  that  any  display  of  fixed 
principle,  however  favorable  to  the  usurper's  plans, 
was  no  passport  to  advancement ;  that  rewards  were 
only  for  the  mercenary,  and  that  they  were  always 
dispensed  with  a  freedom  duly  proportioned  to  the 
eagerness  with  which  they  were  sought.  The  caustic 
wit  of  John  Kandolph  had  unintentionally  and  almost 
with  his  last  breath  supplied  the  faction  with  a  coun 
tersign  not  to  be  mistaken.  If  any  man  talked  about 
his  principles  (as  all  men  do  and  must  at  times), 
there  was  always  at  hand  some  dexterous  pimp,  whose 
business  it  was  to  ascertain  their  number.  If  they 
were  found  to  be  either  more  or  less  than  seven,  the 
discovery  was  fatal  to  his  hopes  of  advancement. 

The  character  of  Douglas  Trevor  had  been  formed 
under  circumstances  directly  the  reverse  of  those 
which  had  operated  on  his  elder  brother.  He  only 
remembered  his  father  in  the  same  circles  and  the 
same  place  in  society  in  which  his  latter  days  had  been 
spent.  No  change  of  condition  had  led  me  youth  to 
turn  his  back  on  the  companions  of  his  boyhood ;  no 
rapid  promotion  had  filled  him  with  a  fond  conceit 
of  his  own  consequence,  or  an  overweening  eagerness 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


327 


for  rank  and  emolument ;  and  his  unbought  fidelity 
had  shown  that  he  was  of  the  number  of  those  on 
whom  rewards  would  be  wasted.  Thus  it  happened 
(as  it  often  does),  that  two  young  men,  sons  of  the 
same  parents,  educated  in  the  same  school,  and  trained 
to  the  same  profession,  were  just  the  reverse  of  each 
other,  in  particulars  wherein  nature  had  probably 
made  little  difference  between  them.  So  it  was,  that 
while  the  one  was  indifferent  to  duty,  frivolous,  self- 
indulgent,  and  mercenary,  the  other  was  assiduous, 
discreet,  temperate,  and  disinterested. 

It  may  be  inferred  from  what  I  have  said,  that  the 
rank  of  Col.  Trevor  was  already  above  his  merit. 
The  consequence  was,  that  having  reached  his  present 
elevation  by  the  force  of  causes  not  within  himself, 
his  own  consciousness  afforded  no  standard  for  his 
farther  pretensions.  He  could  see  no  reason  why  he 
should  not  be  a  field-marshal  as  well  as  a  colonel. 
And  so  it  was;  for  he  had  no  just  claims  to  either 
rank  on  the  score  of  service  or  qualification.  A  stone 
thrown  up,  were  it  endued  with  consciousness  and 
thought,  could  see  no  reason,  as  long  as  it  was  ascend 
ing,  why  it  might  not  fly  to  the  moon.  If  my  expe 
rience  in  life  has  taught  me  anything,  it  is,  that  a  man 
who  sets  no  bounds  to  his  aspirations,  unless  his  daily 
intercourse  with  the  world  affords  daily  proofs  of  an 
intrinsic  superiority  over  all  he  meets,  is  already 
raised  above  his  merit. 

The  gentlemen,  of  whom  I  have  been  speaking, 
were  busily  engaged  in  their  game,  when  the  Orderly 


328  The  Partisan  Leader. 

in  waiting  entered  and  announced  an  officer  who 
wished  to  report  himself  to  the  commandant  of  the 
post. 

"Let  him  call  in  the  morning,  and  be  damned  to 
him,"  said  Col.  Trevor.  "  Is  this  an  hour  to  disturb 
a  gentleman  ?  " 

The  Orderly  saluted  and  withdrew,  but  presently 
returned  to  say  that  the  officer  had  particular  busi 
ness  with  Colonel  Mason,  and  wished  to  see  him 
immediately.  Mason  accordingly  left  the  room,  and 
was  gone  but  a  few  minutes,  when  he  too  came  back. 

"  This  officer,  sir,"  said  he,  "  asked  to  see  me,  sup 
posing  me  still  in  command  here.  His  intelligence  is 
for  you  ;  and,  from  what  I  heard  before  I  discovered 
his  mistake,  it  may  be  important  that  you  should 
receive  it  to-night." 

"  Well,"  said  Trevor,  in  a  tone  at  once  lazy  and 
peevish,  "  I  suppose  I  must  see  him.  But  it  is 
damned  hard  that  I  cannot  have  a  moment's  leisure. 
Let  him  come  in." 

He  was  summoned  accordingly,  and  proved  to  be 
no  other  than  our  acquaintance,  the  Yankee  spy, 
whom  I  now  introduce  to  the  reader,  as  he  announced 
himself.  He  is  Captain  Amos  Cottle,  of  the  20th  regi 
ment  of  infantry,  in  the  army  of  the  United  States. 
His  name,  I  presume  (like  that  of  the  fourteen  James 
Thomsons,  in  Don  Juan),  had  been  bestowed  in 
honor  of  the  illustrious  bard  immortalized  by  Lord 
Byron.  He  was  invited  to  take  a  glass  of  wine,  and, 
having  seated  himself,  requested  a  private  conference 


The  Partisan  Leader.  329 

with  the  commanding  officer.  This  was  a  signal  for 
the  dispersion  of  the  ladies,  and  their  assiduous 
attendants,  who  adjourned  to  another  room.  Mason 
was  about  to  follow,  but  the  Colonel  carelessly  re 
quested  him  to  remain. 

Captain  Cottle  was  then  invited  to  open  his  budget, 
which  he  did  by  telling  what  the  reader  already 
knows.  Not  a  sentence  did  he  utter,  in  which  some 
indication  of  folly,  vanity,  or  indiscretion  did  not 
escape  him.  All  this,  however,  passed  unremarked 
of  Col.  Trevor,  whose  eyes  sparkled  at  the  welcome 
intelligence.  Nothing  could  be  more  apropos  to  his 
wishes,  or  to  the  plan  of  the  President.  "  Yeni,  vidi, 
vici."  The  exploit  of  Caesar  was  the  only  parallel  to 
that  which  he  proposed  to  achieve.  Occasionally  he 
looked  to  Mason  for  sympathy  and  concurrence  with 
his  unexpressed  thoughts.  As  often  he  withdrew  his 
eye,  chilled  and  perplexed  by  the  cold,  steady, 
thoughtful  look  of  his  companion.  What  could  this 
mean  ?  Could  Mason  be  insensible  to  the  advantage 
of  the  plot,  or  indifferent  to  its  issue  ?  Could  envy 
so  far  prevail  with  a  man  heretofore  distinguished  by 
his  disinterested  zeal  for  the  service,  as  to  damp  his 
ardor  in  an  enterprise  of  so  much  promise  ?  He  was 
at  first  indignant  at  this  idea,  but  a  little  reflection 
made  him  judge  his  brother-officer  with  more  candor. 

"  Poor  Mason,"  said  he  to  himself.  "  I  don't  won 
der  that  he  is  a  little  mortified  at  my  good  fortune. 
It  is  something  hard  that  he  should  have  held  this 
post  so  long,  without  a  chance  to  do  anything,  and 


33°  The  Partisan  Leader. 

that  I  should  have  come  just  in  time  to  rob  him  of 
this.  But  then,  damn  it !  it  is  his  own  fault.  What 
did  he  want  with  a  reinforcement  against  a  parcel  of x 
ragged  militia  ?  It  was  right  to  supersede  an  officer 
who  would  ask  more  than  one  regiment  to  meet  any 
number  of  such  ragamuffins  that  could  come  against 
him.  Besides,  he  ought  to  have  broken  up  their  den 
long  ago.  If  Douglas  escapes  me  this  time,  it  shall 
not  be  long  before  I  smoke  him  out  of  his  hole,  or 
there  is  no  virtue  in  gunpowder." 

Having  thus  reasoned  himself  into  a  state  of  exqui 
site  self-complacency,  he  heard  the  story  of  Captain 
Cottle  to  the  end,  and  then  asked  the  opinion  of 
Mason. 

"  I  cannot  say,"  replied  that  gentleman,  "  that  I 
am  prepared  to  give  an  opinion." 

"I  hope,"  said  Trevor,  "that  you  don't  mean  to 
deny  me  the  benefit  of  your  thoughts." 

*'  So  far  from  it,  that  I  make  it  a  point  of  conscience 
not  to  speak  without  having  first  thought.  When  I 
have  done  so,  I  will  tell  you  what  I  think.  To  speak 
now  would  be  but  to  give  you  the  crude  suggestions 
of  unreflecting  and  impertinent  presumption." 

"  I  cannot  understand,"  said  Trevor,  "  how  you 
can  require  time  to  think  in  so  plain  a  case." 

"  I  might  say,  in  reply,"  answered  Mason,  "  that 
as  the  case  is  so  clear  to  you,  you  can  hardly  need  my 
advice.  Indeed,  I  understand  your  request  of  it,  but 
as  a  compliment  to  which  I  am  not  insensible,  and 
which  I  shall  not  decline.  When  I  am  prepared  to 


The  Partisan  Leader.  331 

ppcak,  therefore,  I  shall  speak  as  plain  as  if  the  case 
were  as  full  of  difficulty  to  you  as  it  is  to  me." 

Having  said  this,  Mason  drew  Cottle  into  conversa 
tion  ;  inquired  the  particulars  of  his  visit  to  the 
mountain  ;  encouraged  him  to  recite  his  conversations 
with  Douglas ;  and,  filling  him  full  of  vanity  and  con 
ceit  by  his  deferential  deportment,  made  the  light 
shine  through  him,  so  as  to  expose  his  folly  to  the 
most  careless  observer.  At  length  he  was  dismissed 
for  the  night,  and  Mason,  addressing  Trevor,  said  : 
"  I  am  now  ready  to  give  you  my  thoughts.  I  could 
not  do  so  in  Captain  Cottle's  presence ;  and,  indeed, 
my  mind  was  not  clear  until  I  had  some  more  conver 
sation  with  him.  I  am  now  satisfied." 

"  Let's  hear,  then,  the  result  of  your  cogitations," 
asked  Trevor,  with  something  of  a  sneer. 

Mason  colored  slightly,  but  said,  in  a  calm  tone: 
"  I  have  had  some  experience  of  this  Captain  Douglas, 
and  am  morally  sure  he  has  not  been  deceived  by  this 
man,  as  he  supposes." 

"  What ! "  exclaimed  Trevor.  "  Do  you  forget  that 
Captain  Cottle  is  an  officer  whose  rank  is  a  pledge  for 
his  honor,  and  who  would  forfeit  his  commission  and 
his  life  by  bringing  false  intelligence  to  his  com 
mander  ?  " 

"  I  don't  doubt  his  truth,"  said  Mason,  "  but  his  saga 
city  I  do  doubt.  The  man  is  palpably  a  Yankee — 

"  And  the  cunning  of  the  Yankee  is  proverbial," 
interrupted  Trevor. 

"  It  is,  indeed,"  replied  Mason ;  "  but  as  he  is  not 


332  The  Partisan  Leader. 

only  a  Yankee,  but  obviously  so,  he  could  not 
have  made  Douglas  believe  that  he  was  an  influ 
ential  inhabitant  of  Bedford,  a  native  of  the  county, 
and  a  zealous  stickler  for  the  sovereignty  of  Vir 
ginia." 

"  You  give  your  Captain  Douglas  credit  for  a  great 
deal  of  sagacity." 

"  And  not  without  reason,"  said  Mason.  "  His 
plans,  and  his  manner  of  conducting  them,  all  show 
it.  His  intelligence  appears  to  be  always  correct  and 
ready,  and  his  devices  for  the  concealment  of  his  own 
schemes  are  commonly  impenetrable.  It  is  clear, 
from  many  circumstances,  that  he  has  agents  who  pass 
through  the  country  unsuspected ;  and  I  should  not 
be  surprised  if  Cottle  had  fallen  in  with  one  of  them. 
I  have  no  doubt  that  Douglas  will  be  found  at  Jones's 
Ford  on  the  day  appointed ;  but  my  life  upon  it, 
instead  of  coming  there  to  be  surprised,  he  proposes 
to  come  there  to  surprise  you." 

"  Surprise  ME !  "  said  Trevor,  scornfully. 

"  I  have  no  apprehension  that  he  will  surprise 
you,"  said  Mason,  "because  I  am  sure  you  will  take 
all  proper  precaution.  I  merely  mean  to  say  that  he 
will  attempt  it." 

"  And  be  punished  for  his  presumption,"  said 
Trevor.  "  As  to  precaution,  I  must  use  it,  to  be 
sure,  superfluous  as  it  may  be  against  a  set  of  inex 
perienced  militia." 

"  Of  one  sort  of  experience,"  said  Mason,  "  and 
that  not  the  least  important,  they  have  had  more  than 


The  Partisan  Leader.  333 

we.  They  have  tasted  danger  more  than  once ;  and 
their  skill  in  the  use  of  the  rifle  is  such  as  men  who 
live  with  the  weapon  in  their  hands,  and  they  alone, 
can  be  expected  to  acquire." 

"  I  hope  to  bring  in  some  of  them  as  prisoners," 
said  Trevor,  "  and  then  we  shall  see  how  that  is.  I 
will  pit  a  dozen  of  our  sharp-shooters  against  a  dozen 
of  them,  my  horse  to  yours." 

"  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  betting,"  replied  Mason, 
smiling  quietly;  "  but,  in  this  case,  I  dare  say  I  may 
do  it  innocently,  as  the  offence  will  hardly  reach 
beyond  intention ;  so  I  take  your  bet." 

"  How  do  you  mean?  "  asked  Trevor,  sharply. 

"  I  mean,"  said  Mason,  "  that  I  am  not  very  sure 
that  you  will  take  a  dozen  of  them." 

"  Not  sure!  "  exclaimed  Trevor  ;  "  how  can  they 
escape  me  ?  " 

"  I  don't  profess  to  understand  their  craft,"  said 
Mason ;  "  but  they  are  hard  to  catch.  In  short, 
Colonel  Trevor,  my  instructions  require  me  to  afford 
you  all  the  information  I  have  acquired  here.  It  is 
therefore  my  duty,  even  without  question  from  you, 
to  assure  you  that  you  are  in  the  midst  of  a  disaffected 
country,  and  that  you  are  going  against  an  enemy  not 
to  be  despised,  and  among  a  people  universally  hos 
tile.  Knowing  these  things,  and  invited  by  you  to 
advise  what  is  to  be  done  in  this  affair,  my  advice  is 
to  march  your  whole  disposable  force  to  the  appointed 
place,  using  every  precaution  to  guard  against  sur 
prise.  It  might  be  as  well  to  anticipate  Douglas,  so 


334  The  Partisan  Leader. 

far  at  leastas  to  underst  and  the  ground,  and  to  occupy 
it  before  the  day." 

"  And  so  he  takes  warning,  and  escapes  me." 
"  By  no  means.  Cottle's  scheme  will  have  been 
made  available  so  far  as  to  draw  him  down  from  the 
mountains.  You  neither  need  nor  desire  any  other 
advantage.  But  I  see  that  I  cannot  easily  make 
myself  understood,  because  our  minds  are  occupied 
with  different  things.  You  are  thinking  about  the 
trap  set  for  Douglas,  and  I  am  thinking  about  the 
snare  he  has  laid  for  you.  Depend  upon  it,  Colonel 
Trevor,  that  the  old  story  of  catching  a  Tartar,  may 
be  illustrated  by  catching  Douglas  among  the  river 
hills.  He  may  be  caught ;  and  yet,  neither  come 
away,  nor  let  you  come.  Observe,"  continued  Ma 
son,  "  when  I  inquired  of  this  Captain  Cottle  about 
the  nature  of  the  ground  at  the  Ford,  behold,  he  had 
not  taken  notice  of  it !  but,  on  cross-examination,  by 
finding  what  he  did  not  see,  I  am  satisfied  that  there 
is  no  low  ground,  nor  cleared  land  at  the  place ;  that 
the  hills  come  sheer  down  to  the  river,  and,  by  almost 
necessary  consequence,  that  the  road  leads  through  a 
deep  defile.  The  choice  of  such  a  place  confirms  my 
suspicion  of  Douglas's  plan,  and  affords  the  means  to 
counterwork  it.  If  we  occupy  the  strong  points  of 
the  ground,  and  he  comes  with  only  such  a  body  of 
men  as  Cottle  expects,  we  take  him  without  effusion 
of  blood.  If  he  comes  in  force,  our  position  will  give 
us  all  the  advantage  he  seeks ;  and,  trust  me,  in  that 
case  we  shall  have  need  of  them." 


The  Partisan  Leader.  335 

"  Need  of  advantages  against  irregulars!"  drawled 
Trevor,  sneeringly,  arid  emphasizing  every  word. 

"  Our  discipline  and  experience  are  of  little  conse 
quence,"  said  Mason,  "  if  we  do  not  use  them.  One 
use  of  them  is  to  know  how  to  take  advantages." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  Trevor ;  "  I  shall  seek  none.  A 
fair  field  and  a  clear  sky  are  all  I  ask ;  and  I  shall  be 
careful  to  take  no  measures  which  may  alarm  this 
mountain  wolf,  and  drive  him  back  to  his  den  before 
I  can  come  up  with  him." 

These  words  were  hardly  spoken  when  the  Orderly 
announced  that  a  sergeant  of  dragoons  had  just 
returned  from  a  scouting  party  with  important  intel 
ligence,  and  had  come  to  make  his  report  to  the  Colo 
nel.  "What  this  was  the  reader  will  infer,  when  told 
that  he  was  the  non-commissioned  officer  on  whom 
had  devolved  the  command  of  the  four  men  who  had 
escaped  with  him  from  Jones's  Ford.  His  informa 
tion  confirmed  Mason's  suspicions,  and  might  have 
served  as  a  damper  to  the  flattering  anticipations  of  a 
man  less  sanguine  than  Colonel  Trevor.  Its  only 
effect  on  him  was  to  sharpen  his  eagerness  for  the 
expected  rencontre.  Yet  the  Sergeant,  when  ques 
tioned,  frankly  admitted  that  his  party  had  not  been 
out-numbered.  But  it  was  clear  that  their  design 
had  been,  by  some  means,  disclosed  to  Douglas  ;  and 
his  advantage  had  been  the  result  of  judicious  dispo 
sitions,  and  the  skill  of  his  men  in  the  use  of  that 
most  terrible  of  all  weapons. 

But  all  this  abated  nothing  of  Colonel  Trevor's 


336  The  Partisan  Leader. 

contempt  for  a  foe  unskilled  in  the  manual  exercise, 
ignorant  of  the  grand  manoeuvres,  and  dressed  in 
buckskin.  Every  attempt  on  the  part  of  Col.  Mason 
to  bring  him  to  listen  to  reason  proved  fruitless. 
Indeed  the  conversation  occasionally  took  such  a 
turn  as  to  create  a  doubt  in  the  mind  of  that  gentle 
man,  whether  to  press  his  advice  any  further  might 
not  make  it  difficult  to  reconcile  with  his  own  self- 
respect  the  deference  which  he  knew  to  be  due  to 
his  commander.  He  therefore  determined  to  receive 
and  execute  in  silence  all  orders  which  might  be 
given,  and  leave  the  event  to  Providence. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  337 


OHAPTEE    XXXYII. 

More  dreadful  far  their  ire 
Than  theirs,  who,  scorning  danger's  name, 
In  eager  mood  to  battle  came ; 
Their  valor,  like  light  straw  on  flame, 

A  fierce,  but  fading  fire ! 

FREED  at  length  from  his  troublesome  adviser,  Col. 
Trevor  was  left  to  the  uninterrupted  enjoyment  of 
his  anticipated  triumph.  He  seemed  to  tread  on 
air,  and,  with  a  flashing  eye,  and  spread  nostrils,  to 
look  forward  to  the  glories,  and  snuff  up  the  carnage 
of  the  expected  fight.  Such  was  his  impatience  for 
the  adventure,  that,  in  the  eagerness  of  anticipation, 
he  gave  no  thought  to  the  necessary  preparations. 
It  was  enough  to  issue  the  customary  order  for  the 
troops  to  be  in  readiness  for  the  march,  with  a  sup 
ply  of  cartridges  and  rations  suitable  to  the  expedition. 

The  third  day  of  November  at  length  arrived,  and 
the  troops  took  up  the  line  of  march.  As  they  issued 
in  glittering  rank  from  the  barracks  above  the  town, 
the  Colonel,  proudly  mounted  on  his  stately  charger, 
posted  himself  in  the  gateway  of  the  house,  where 
he  had  taken  up  his  quarters,  and  received  their 
passing  salute.  The  portico  of  the  house  was  crowded 
with  female  figures;  the  windows  were  clustered 


338  The  Partisan  Leader. 

with  fair  faces ;  the  noble  oak-trees  in  the  yard  were 
hung  with  garlands,  in  token  of  the  loyalty  of  the 
household,  and  of  an  anticipated  triumph  in  his 
assured  victory.  But  the  Colonel  saw  nothing  of 
this.  His  eye  saw  not  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs, 
his  ear  heard  not  the  cheering  farewells  issuing  in 
tones  of  music  from,  rosy  lips.  He  heard  only  the 
spirit-stirring  drum  and  clanging  bugle  ;  he  saw 
nothing  but  the  stately  steppings  of  his  well-trained 
troops  as  they  marched  by ;  and  then,  his  eye,  fol 
lowing  them,  dwelt  with  delight  upon  their  pictu 
resque  appearance  as  they  wound  along  the  slope  of 
the  hill,  and  crossed  Blackvvater-bridge.  Beyond 
this,  imagination  presented  objects  of  yet  greater 
interest, — the  battle-field,  the  tumult  of  the  strife, 
the  rout,  the  pursuit,  the  carnage,  the  vanquished 
leader  led  in  chains  to  the  foot  of  the  throne,  the 
gracious  smile  of  approving  majesty,  and  the  rich 
rewards  of  successful  valor.  These  things  he  saw  ; 
but  saw  not  the  gaunt  figure  of  his  host,  who  stood 
near,  his  strong  features  and  manly  person  ill  sort 
ing  with  the  abject  part  he  condemned  himself  to 
act.  He  sought  in  vain  to  catch  the  eye  of  the 
excited  commander,  desirous,  in  his  parting  words, 
to  convey  some  expression  of  loyalty  a»id  zeal. 
Colonel  Trevor  marked  him  not;  and,  as  the  rear 
of  the  column  was  about  to  pass,  put  spurs  to  his 
horse,  and  galloped  to  the  front. 

At  this  point  of  my  story,  I  must  crave  the  indul 
gence  of  the  reader,  while  I  introduce  my  humble 


The  Partisan  Leader.  339 

self  to  his  notice.  A  native  of  South  Carolina,  and 
the  heir  of  a  goodly  inheritance,  which,  during  a 
long  minority,  had  been  at  nurse  in  the  hands  of  an 
honest  and  prudent  guardian,  I  was  just  of  age,  the 
master  of  a  handsome  income,  and  of  a  large  sum  of 
money  in  hand.  Having  a  taste  for  military  life,  my 
guardian  had  procured  me  a  situation  in  the  military 
academy,  which  had  been  established  by  the  State, 
as  a  counterpoise  to  that  institution  at  which  the 
Federal  Government  had  taught  so  many  of  our 
southern  youths  to  whet  their  swords  against  the 
only  sovereignty  to  which  they  owed  allegiance. 
My  proficiency  had  been  seen,  and  gave  entire  satis 
faction  to  my  teachers.  I  had  imbibed  political 
opinions  which  made  me  a  zealous  advocate  for  the 
rights  of  the  States,  and  a  strenuous  asserter  of  the 
unalienable  independence  of  South  Carolina.  When, 

in  compliance  with  the  request  of  Mr.  B ,  inquiry 

had  been  made  for  a  young  man  qualified  and  dis 
posed  to  aid  young  Trevor  in  his  enterprise,  I  had 
been  selected  for  that  purpose.  I  was  invited  to 
Columbia ;  made  acquainted  with  the  plans  of  the 
insurgents  in  Virginia,  and  provided  with  letters  to 
my  future  commander.  Journeying  to  Virginia  by 
the  route  that  he  had  pursued,  on  the  evening  of  the 
first  day  of  November  I  entered  the  valley  described 
in  the  first  chapter.  I  soon  encountered  a  crowd  of 
men  who  filled  the  road  and  the  yard  of  a  house 
contiguous  to  it.  There  were  wagons,  horses,  and 
arms;  and  the  men,  moving  quietly  but  busily, 


340  The  Partisan  Leader. 

seemed  all  earnestly  engaged  in  some  important 
preparation. 

I  was  presently  stopped,  courteously  though  pe 
remptorily  ;  and  having  expressed  a  wish  to  see  Cap 
tain  Douglas,  was  conducted  to  the  house.  There, 
pen  in  hand,  and  busily  engaged  in  writing,  sat  a 
young  man  of  small  stature  and  slight  figure.  Though 
quite  handsome,  there  was  nothing  remarkable  in 
his  features ;  but  a  bright  gray  eye,  of  calm,  thought 
ful,  and  searching  expression,  strongly  contrasted 
with  the  dark  brown  curling  hair  that  clustered  over 
his  brow. 

Being  accosted  by  my  conductor,  he  raised  his 
head  ;  when  I  stepped  forward,  and  handed  him  my 
letters.  He  glanced  hastily  to  the  signature  of  the 
first  he  opened,  then  read  it  leisurely,  and  looking  at 
me  with  a  beaming  countenance,  extended  his  hand. 
"You  are  welcome,  sir,"  said  he;  "welcome  to 
danger's  hour.  In  the  morning  we  march  on  an 
expedition  which  may  decide  the  fate  of  the  cam 
paign.  My  engagements  must  excuse  my  seeming 
neglect  of  you  this  evening.  But  let  me  make  you 
known  to  your  future  comrades." 

Then  turning  to  a  fair-haired  youth,  already  known 
to  the  reader  as  Arthur  Trevor,  he  introduced  him 
a?  his  mother's  son.  I  was  then  made  acquainted 
with  Schwartz  and  Witt,  and  several  others.  Among 
the  number  were  a  few  young  men  from  the  lower 
counties,  of  good  families  and  education,  who,  in  this 
crisis,  had  left  their  homes  to  engage  in  this  expedi- 


The  Partisan  Leader.  341 

tion.  These,  like  their  leader,  had  all  learned  to 
accommodate  themselves  to  the  fashions  of  that  wild 
country,  and  its  wilder  climate,  and  especially  to 
their  own  wild  life.  Each  individual  was  dressed, 
from  top  to  toe,  in  leather,  no  otherwise  differing 
from  the  dress  of  the  rudest  mountaineer,  than  in 
neatness,  and  a  certain  easy  grace,  and  air  of  fashion, 
which  no  dress  can  entirely  conceal.  In  any  dress, 
in  any  company,  under  any  circumstances,  Douglas 
Trevor  would  have  been  recognized  as  a  gentle 
man. 

I  hardly  remember  how  I  fared,  or  how  I  passed 
the  night.  As  a  stranger,  I  presume  somewhat  better 
than  most  others ;  but  I  took  pains  to  show  that  I 
was  content  to  eat  what  I  could  get,  and  to  lodge  as 
I  might. 

At  daylight  we  were  on  the  road.  But  little 
attention  was  paid  to  order.  ~No  enemy  was  near, 
and  nobody  was  inclined  to  desert.  There  wras 
therefore  no  necessity  for  harassing  men  and 
horses,  by  forcing  them  to  keep  in  ranks.  Each  man 
rode  where,  and  with  whom  he  pleased,  except  that 
a  few  were  directed  to  keep  near  the  wagons,  not 
so  much  to  guard  as  to  assist  in  case  of  need.  It  is 
impossible  to  conceive  a  military  array,  with  less  of 
the  "pomp  and  circumstance  of  war."  The  horses 
were,  for  the  most  part,  substantial,  and  in  substan 
tial  order.  Their  equipments  were  of  the  rudest  sort. 
Plough-bridles  and  pack-saddles  were  most  common. 
The  only  arms  were  the  rifle,  knife,  and  tomahawk, 


342  The   Partisan  Leader. 

with  their  appropriate  accompaniments  of  powder- 
horn,  charger,  and  pouch.  Douglas,  indeed,  had 
a  sword,  and  the  few  sabres  taken  from  the  dragoons 
had  been  distributed  among  the  principal  men.  But 
they  were  all  too  wise  to  encumber  their  persons 
with  these  weapons,  which  might  have  been  trou 
blesome  in  their  mode  of  warfare.  A  strong  loop  of 
thick  leather,  stitched  to  the  skirt  of  the  saddle,  in 
front  of  the  left  knee,  received  the  sword,  the  hilt  of 
which  stood  up  above  the  pummel.  Two  or  three 
of  the  saddles  were  of  the  Spanish  fashion,  the  horn 
of  which  served  to  support  any  trifle  the  rider  might 
wish  to  hang  on  it.  Douglas,  in  particular,  carried, 
in  this  way,  a  leather  case,  containing  his  writing 
materials,  and  serving  as  a  tablet  for  writing  on 
horseback. 

But  rude  as  these  equipments  were,  yet  to  one 
acquainted  with  the  object  of  the  expedition,  there 
was  an  appearance  of  efficiency  in  the  whole  which 
gave  the  corps  a  truly  formidable  aspect.  The  per 
fect  order  of  the  arms,  the  strong  rude  dress  of  the 
men,  their  sinewy  frames,  their  sunburnt  faces ;  and, 
above  all,  the  serious  and  resolved  expression  of 
countenance  which  generally  prevailed,  were  tokens 
which  none  but  a  martinet  would  overlook. 

As  yet  no  duty  had  been  assigned  to  me,  so  that 
I  was  perfectly  disengaged.  It  was  not  until  we  had 
ridden  several  miles,  that  Douglas  found  leisure  to 
converse  with  me.  He  then  joined  me,  accompanied 
by  Schwartz,  to  whom,  in  my  presence,  he  explained 


The  Partisan  Leader.  343 

my  situation.  Schwartz  heard  him  with  thoughtful 
attention,  and  then  said  :  "  It  is  all  mighty  well,  sir, 
if  Mr.  Sidney  will  only  just  take  it  right.  You  see, 
sir,"  continued  he,  addressing  me,  "  there  an't  no 
officers  among  us,  and  we  only  just  call  the  Cap 
tain  so  for  short.  If  he  was  a  Captain  or  a  Gineral 
it  would  not  make  much  odds,  because  these  fellows 
just  go  for  what  is  right  and  hard  fighting ;  and  him 
they  believe  in,  him  they  mind.  But  as  to  who  is 
first  and  who  is  second,  that's  neither  here  nor  there. 
I  have  not  a  doubt  that  you  are  the  sort  of  a  man  we 
want ;  but  all  that  we  can  do,  is  to  give  you  a  fair 
chance  to  let  the  men  see  it.  The  Captain  can  be 
asking  your  advice,  now  and  then,  and  I  and  Witt 
will  do  the  same,  and  when  they  see  that,  they  will 
begin  to  find  out  what  you  are.  And  then,  you  see, 
sir,  when  once  we  get  to  fighting,  a  man  is  never  in 
such  a  flurry  himself,  but  what  he  can  see  who 
knows  what  he  is  about,  and  who  does  not.  So,  by 
the  time  we  have  had  a  skrimmage  or  two,  the  men 
will  know  all  about  you ;  and  whenever  the  Captain 
is  out  of  the  way,  they  will  all  be  looking  to  you  to 
know  what  to  do ;  just  in  the  way  of  giving  your 
opinion,  mind ;  but,  after  a  while  it  will  get  to  be 
orders.  And  then,  if  any  thing  happens  to  the  Cap 
tain,  and  Witt  and  I  don't  see  cause  to  change  our 
mind,  why,  we  only  just  have  to  follow  you,  and  the 
men  they  follow  us,  and  all  will  go  straight.  So 
you  must  just  make  yourself  easy  and  keep  quiet. 
We'll  tell  you  when  to  speak,  and  after  a  while 

7* 


344  The  Partisan  Leader. 

you'll  find  yourself  second  in  command  before  you 
know  it." 

I  had  no  difficulty  in  acknowledging  the  reasona 
bleness  of  these  ideas,  though  it  seemed  a  new  thing 
to  find  a  man  possessing  the  influence  and  authority 
of  Schwartz,  devising  means  to  transfer  them  to 
another.  But  he  knew,  and  the  event  showed  that 
he  was  right,  that  there  were  some  duties  of  a  com 
mander  for  which  he  was  not  fit ;  and  that  there 
were  other  things  to  which  a  chief  could  not  devote 
himself,  for  which  he  was  better  qualified  than  any 
other. 

On  the  third  of  November  we  reached  the  ren 
dezvous,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Gordon.  On  the  way 
we  had  received  frequent  accessions  of  strength,  and 
here  we  were  joined  by  a  yet  larger  reinforcement. 
Our  whole  number  could  not  have  been  much,  if  at 
all,  short  of  a  thousand  men. 

Meantime  scouts  came  in,  from  whom  we  learned 
that  the  same  day  had  been  fixed  for  the  march  of 
the  troops  from  Lynchburg.  It  followed  that  we 
had  abundance  of  time  for  our  preparations.  It  so 
happened,  that  they  had  not  learned  the  name  of 
the  new  commander ;  but  it  was  understood  that  a 
reinforcement  had  arrived,  and  that  nearly  the 
whole  disposable  force  was  on  the  march.  This 
included  a  troop  of  dragoons  and  a  company  of 
artillery,  with  two  pieces  of  cannon,  in  addition  to  a 
full  regiment  of  infantry,  and  one  battalion  of 
another. 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


.  Having  ascertained  his  force,  and  fixed  on  those 
on  whom  he  could  rely  to  understand  and  execute 
his  plans,  Douglas  proceeded  to  make  a  temporary 
organization,  suited  to  the  occasion.  The  men  were 
divided  into  corps,  to  each  of  which  a  post  was  pro 
visionally  assigned,  to  be  occupied  as  soon  as  the 
approach  of  the  enemy  should  be  announced. 
Across  the  road,  near  the  head  of  the  defile,  and 
just  above  the  first  angle  next  the  top  of  the  ascent, 
was  constructed  a  barricade  of  logs,  similar  to  those 
already  described.  This  reached,  on  each  side,  to 
the  foot  of  the  hills,  at  steep,  rocky,  and  impracti 
cable  points.  It  was  long  enough  for  twenty  men  to 
man  its  twenty  loop-holes,  and  as  it  reached  above 
their  heads,  they  were  quite  concealed.  An  hun 
dred  men  were  allotted  to  this  post,  who  were  ranged 
five  deep  behind  the  barricade,  and  instructed  to  fire 
in  turn,  each  man  falling  back  to  the  rear  to  reload 
as  soon  as  he  had  discharged  his  piece. 

Others  were  distributed  along  the  opposite  faces 
of  the  hills  overlooking  the  road,  and  directed  to 
seek  out  hiding-places  behind  rocks,  trees,  and 
bushes.  These  men  were  under  the  immediate 
orders  of  individuals  selected  for  the  occasion,  but 
attached  to  the  command  of  Witt,  who  was  stationed 
at  the  barrier. 

About  a  hundred  were  placed  in  ambush  in  the 
mouth  of  the  ravine,  just  below  the  road,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  under  Schwartz.  These 
were  all  picked  men  —  our  steadiest  and  coolest 


346  The  Partisan  Leader. 

sharp-shooters — who  were  placed  there  for  the  pur 
pose  of  attacking  and  carrying  the  guns  of  the 
enemy  at  the  water's  edge. 

Douglas  himself,  at  the  head  of  the  rest  of  his 
corps,  prepared  to  occupy  the  road  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  to  bring  on  the^  action.  These 
were  divided  into  two  equal  bodies,  and  the  whole 
ranged  in  platoons,  at  open  order,  across  the  road. 
Of  the  two  battalions,  as  they  may  be  called,  the 
foremost  was  placed  under  my  command.  The 
other  Douglas  commanded  in  person.  My  orders 
were  to  post  my  headmost  platoon  just  at  the  bend 
of  the  road,  on  the  top  of  the  hill  where  it  turns  to 
the  right.  They  were  instructed  to  fire  ad  libitum, 
each  man  choosing  and  making  sure  of  his  mark, 
and  then  to  file  away  by  the  right,  and,  taking  to 
their  heels,  to  run  down  to  the  river,  cross  it,  and 
dispose  themselves  on  the  other  bank,  so  as  most 
effectually  to  gall  the  enemy,  should  he  attempt  to 
cross.  Each  platoon,  in  succession,  was  to  march  up 
to  the  same  ground,  and,  having  fired,  to  execute 
the  same  manoeuvre.  The  remaining  column,  under 
Douglas,  were  to  stand  their  ground  until  the  enemy 
should  come  in  view  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  then 
to  fall  back  fighting,  and  cross  under  cover  of  those 
who  should  have  passed  before.  But  the  best 
account  of  what  was  ordered  will  be  gathered  from 
what  was  done. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  347 


CHAPTEE    XXXYIII. 

The  triumph  and  the  vanity, 

The  rapture  of  the  strife ; 
The  earthquake  voice  of  victory, 

To  thee  the  breath  of  life  ; 
All  quelled : — Dark  spirit,  what  must  be 
The  madness  of  thy  memory  ? 

WHILE  these  arrangements  were  in  progress, 
scouts  were  hourly  arriving.  The  country  being 
altogether  friendly,  they  were  readily  provided  with 
fresh  horses  ;  and,  before  the  enemy  were  half  way 
from  Lynchburg,  we  were  fully  apprised  of  their 
number,  equipments,  and  order  of  march.  First 
came  a  squadron  of  dragoons  ;  then  a  light  company  ; 
then  Trevor's  regiment,  about  five  hundred  strong  ; 
then  a  company  of  artillery ;  then  one  battalion  of 
Mason's  regiment,  consisting  *f  something  more 
than  two  hundred  men;  the  whole  followed  by  a 
few  light  troops,  by  way  of  rear-guard.  The  whole 
might  amount  to  a  thousand  men,  well  appointed 
and  prepared  at  all  points  for  efficient  action. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fifth  of  November,  the 
men  were  ordered  to  betake  themselves  to  their 
allotted  posts;  and  Douglas,  having  visited  each, 


348  The   Partisan  Leader. 

and  seen  that  all  was  right,  and  rightly  understood, 
addressed  himself  to  his  particular  command.  Wher* 
every  man  is  an  officer,  each  must  be  told  indivi 
dually  beforehand  what  is  expected  from  him. 
Panic  apart,  they  will  be  apt  to  fulfil  such  instruc 
tions,  and  will  fight  with  the  terrible  efficiency  of 
individual  animosity.  Hence  the  formidable  cha 
racter  of  partisan  warfare. 

At  length  the  enemy  made  their  appearance. 
Clinging  to  the  idea  of  surprising  Douglas,  Col.  Tre 
vor  sent  forward  no  advance,  but  determined  to  bring 
the  whole  strength  of  his  corps  to  bear  upon  him  at 
once.  If  he  employed  any  scouts,  they  were  either 
unfaithful,  or  were  not  permitted  to  approach  near 
enough  to  learn  any  thing  of  the  position  or  move 
ments  of  Douglas.  The  consequence  was,  that  Col. 
Trevor  received  the  first  intimation  of  his  presence 
from  a  sharp  firing  in  front,  which  sent  his  horse  to 
the  right-about  and  back  to  the  rear.  Pressing  for 
ward,  he  immediately  ordered  his  sharp-shooters  to 
disperse  and  take  positions  to  gall  us,  while  he  pushed 
on  his  solid  column  of  heavy  infantry.  The  reception 
prepared  for  them  was  such  as  he  had  not  dreamed  of. 
His  men  fell  like  leaves  in  autumn  ;  and,  as  fast  as 
one  platoon  of  the  mountaineers  discharged  their 
pieces,  another  was  on  the  same  ground  to  pour  in 
again  that  terrible  fire,  of  which  the  martinets  of  the 
regular  service  have  so  inadequate  an  idea.  Instead 
of  the  deep-mouthed  peal  of  muskets,  discharged 
simultaneously,  there  is  the  sharp,  short  crack  of  rifle 


The  Partisan  Leader.  349 

after  rifle,  fired  by  men  no  one  of  whom  touches  the 
trigger  until  he  sees  precisely  where  his  ball  is  to  go. 
The  effect  was  suitable  to  the  cause  ;  but  yet  the  steady 
infantry  pressed  on, 

"  Each  stepping  where  his  comrade  stood," 

to  form  an  unbroken  front,  in  order  to  charge  with  the 
bayonet. 

Suddenly  the  firing  ceased,  and,  behold,  their  ene 
my  seemed  to  have  fled  from  the  expected  charge. 
The  fact  was,  that  my  last  platoon,  having  fired,  had 
withdrawn  like  their  predecessors,  and  were  running 
at  full  speed  after  their  companions,  down  the  hill  and 
across  the  river.  At  the  water's  edge,  I  stopped  and 
joined  Schwartz  in  his  ambush.  It  had  been  arranged 
that  I  should  do  this  ;  because,  in  case  we  should  be 
so  fortunate  as  to  seize  the  cannon,  my  skill  as  an 
artillerist  might  be  of  great  use.  Meantime,  my  men 
having  crossed  over,  dispersed  themselves  along  the 
bank,  the  face  of  the  hills,  and  across  the  road,  to 
cover  the  retreat  of  those  who  remained. 

The  regulars  had  necessarily  spent  a  few  moments 
in  repairing  the  wreck  of  their  shattered  column  before 
they  advanced.  They  then  moved  forward;  but,  before 
they  turned  the  angle  of  the  road,  most  of  my  men 
were  across  the  river.  At  the  same  time,  the  column 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Douglas  was  seen 
drawn  up  in  the  road,  near  the  foot  of  the  hill,  with 
the  rear  resting  on  the  water's  edge.  As  the  enemy 
advanced  the  front  platoon  fired,  faced  to  the  right, 


35°  The  Partisan  Leader. 

and  filing  along  the  flank  of  the  column,  entered  the 
river  and  crossed  just  below  the  ford.  They  next 
filed  to  the  left  in  the  same  way,  and  crossed  above 
the  ford.  In  this  manner  the  whole  column  disap 
peared,  one  platoon  after  another,  while  their  fire  was 
answered  by  a  roar  of  musketry,  which,  being  dis 
charged  from  the  higher  ground,  did  more  harm  to 
those  on  the  farther  bank  of  the  river  than  to -the 
nearer  enemy.  At  length  the  last  platoon  was  with 
drawn,  and  the  regulars  rushed  down  toward  the  river 
for  the  purpose  of  annoying  them  in  crossing.  In  this 
attempt  they  were  again  checked  and  driven  back  by 
the  terrible  fire  of  my  men,  who,  having  already 
crossed,  were  drawn  up,  as  I  have  said,  on  the  other 
bank. 

Col.  Trevor  now  saw  the  necessity  of  advancing  his 
artillery,  which  was  accordingly  hurried  down  to  the 
water's  edge  to  clear  a  passage  for  the  infantry.  By 
the  time  the  cannon  were  unlimbered,  not  a  man  of 
the  mountaineers  was  to  be  seen.  As  soon  as  their 
companions  had  crossed,  they  dispersed  with  every 
appearance  of  confusion  and  alarm  ;  some  scampering 
along  the  road,  and  some  clambering  up  the  hills  on 
both  sides  of  it. 

The  way  was  now  open,  and  the  infantry  advanced 
to  cross  the  river.  At  this  moment  Colonel  Mason, 
riding  up  to  Colonel  Trevor,  pointed  out  the  advantage 
ous  position  of  the  artillery  as  a  cover  to  his  rear,  if 
he  should  be  forced  to  retreat.  "  Give  me  leave  to 
suggest,"  said  he,  "  that  it  may  be  well  to  leave  the 


The  Partisan  Leader.  351 

cannon  where  they  are.  The  cavalry,  too,  cannot  act 
with  effect  among  those  hills,  and  the  two  together, 
should  the  fortune  of  the  day  be  unpropitious,  may 
be  of  more  use  here  than  on  the  other  side." 

"  You  say  true,"  said  Trevor.  "  It  shall  be  as  you 
advise,  and  you,  Colonel,  will  remain  in  command  of 
this  reserve." 

"  I  earnestly  beg,  sir,"  said  Mason,  "  that  you  will 
not  deny  me  a  share  in  the  work  of  the  day.  The 
Captains  of  artillery  and  dragoons  are  all-sufficient  to 
the  command  of  their  respective  corps." 

"Pardon  me,  sir,"  said  Trevor.  "None  can  be  so 
proper  to  execute  your  prudent  and  cautious  device 
as  you,  its  author.  You  will  be  pleased,  therefore,  to 
repair  to  the  rear,  rally  the  dragoons,  and  bring  them 
down  to  the  water's  edge.  Let  them  be  ready  to  cross 
at  a  moment's  warning,  to  assist  in  the  pursuit  as  soon 
as  I  have  driven  the  enemy  into  the  plain." 

Saying  this,  Colonel  Trevor  turned  off,  and  giving 
the  word  to  march,  dashed  into  the  river.  Poor 
Mason,  insulted  and  mortified,  nevertheless  patiently 
addressed  himself  to  the  duty  assigned  him.  Thus 
was  this  able  and  brave  man  denied  all  participation 
in  an  affair  which  his  arrogant  and  sanguine  com 
mander  believed  to  be  an  abounding  source  of  honor 
to  all  who  might  be  engaged  in  it. 

I  have  omitted  to  mention  that,  as  soon  as  the 
plan  of  endeavoring  to  surprise  the  artillery  had 
been  adopted,  Schwartz  had  requested  me  to  draw 
the  outline  of  a  piece  of  mounted  ordnance  in  the 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


sand,  and  to  mark  the  proper  positions  of  the  artil 
lerists  employed  about  it.  While  I  did  this,  some 
ten  or  fifteen  of  our  best  marksmen  stood  by,  looking 
on  attentively.  When  my  sketch  was  done,  he 
turned  to  one  of  them,  and  pointing  to  one  of  the 
marks  made  to  stand  for  an  artillerist,  said  coolly  : 
"  Now,  this  is  your  man  ;"  and  to  another,  "  this  is 
yours."  Thus  he  went  on  till  he  had  doomed  every 
victim. 

While  we  are  supplying  this  omission  in  our  nar 
rative,  the  reader  will  please  to  suppose  that  Col. 
Trevor's  regiment  have  forded  the  river,  and  have 
passed  up  the  road  and  out  of  sight.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  the  hills  on  both  sides  of  the  defile 
had  been  lined  with  concealed  marksmen,  and  that 
the  greater  part  of  the  advance  had,  on  recrossing 
the  river,  thrown  themselves  into  the  same  places  of 
concealment.  But  the  idea  that  they  had  done  so 
for  any  purpose  but  that  of  safety,  entered  not  into 
Col.  Trevor's  mind.  Indeed,  if  he  had  had  any 
doubt,  it  must  have  been  removed  when  he  found, 
that  as  his  column  wound  through  the  deep  defile, 
not  a  shot  molested  their  march.  At  the  first  angle 
of  the  road  he  halted  and  let  the  column  march  past 
him.  He  could  see,  from  this  point,  both  the  head 
of  it,  as  it  advanced,  and  the  rear  as  it  came  up.  As 
the  latter  passed  the  spot  where  he  stood,  the  lead 
ing  platoon  was  in  the  act  of  turning  the  next  angle 
of  the  road.  At  that  moment  he  heard  the  startling 
report  of  a  volley  of  rifles.  He  set  spurs  to  his  horse 


The  Partisan  Leader.  353 

to  gallop  to  the  front,  when  every  rock  and  every 
tree  of  the  surrounding  hills  burst  into  flame,  and 
the  deep  ravine  echoed  to  the  report  of  a  hundred 
rifles.  A  shot  struck  his  horse,  and  another  piercing 
his  hat,  grazed  the  top  of  his  head  deep  enough  to 
lay  bare  the  skull,  and  stun  him,  as  he  fell  under  his 
slaughtered  horse.  He  was  thus  placed  hors  du 
combat,  owing  the  preservation  of  his  life  to  the  in 
signia  of  his  rank  which  had  endangered  it. 

The  sound  of  this  firing  was  the  signal  for  us. 
Each  of  the  selected  marksmen  fixed  his  aim  on  his 
appropriate  victim ;  and,  at  a  word  from  Schwartz, 
the  artillerymen  at  the  guns  fell  as  if  swept  away 
by  the  breath  of  a  tempest.  Rushing  from  our  hid 
ing-place,  the  cannon  were  instantly  in  our  posses 
sion.  The  company  of  artillery  were  not  slow  to 
disappear  behind  the  angle  of  the  rock,  and  one  or 
two  who  peeped  out,  being  instantly  picked  off,  we 
saw  no  more  of  them. 

Presently  we  heard  the  heavy  tramp  of  the  squa 
dron  slowly  descending  the  hill,  accompanied  with 
the  peculiar  sound  of  dragoons,  dressing  the  front  in 
preparation  for  a  sudden  and  overwhelming  charge. 
While  this  was  passing,  our  guns  were  all  reloaded. 
'  Mind,  boys,"  said  Schwartz  ;  "  all  of  number  one." 
The  word  was  understood,  and  every  alternate  man 
stood  ready,  with  rifle  cocked  and  trigger  set,  to 
receive  the  enemy.  The  charge  was  sounded,  and 
the  leading  horsemen,  wheeling  around  the  rock, 
were  rushing  on  at  full  speed,  when  horses  and 


354  The  Partisan  Leader. 

riders  were  seen  to  go  down  in  one  promiscuous 
heap.  The  greater  number  of  the  squadron  were 
still  out  of  sight ;  and,  had  the  way  been  open,  might 
have  followed  to  share  the  fate  of  their  companions, 
and  finally  to  ride  us  down  when  our  guns  should 
have  been  all  discharged.  But  the  work  had  been 
done  too  effectually.  The  dead  and  wounded  (both 
horse  and  rider)  nearly  filled  the  road ;  and  for  dra 
goons  to  pick  their  way  among  such  appalling 
obstacles  in  the  face  of  fifty  loaded  rifles  at  a  dis 
tance  of  twenty  paces,  was  out  of  the  question.  A 
few  who  made  the  attempt  found  this  to  their  cost. 
The  charge  was  not  renewed,  and  some  of  our  men 
advancing  to  the  angle  of  the  rock,  and  occupying 
inaccessible  but  commanding  points  on  the  hills, 
soon  made  them  draw  off  to  a  safe  distance. 

While  this  was  doing,  I,  with  the  few  men  selected 
for  the  service  of  the  artillery,  gave  my  attention  to 
that.  Glancing  my  eye  along  both  pieces,  I  saw 
that  both  had  been  accurately  pointed  into  the  road 
on  the  other  side.  I  had  nothing,  therefore,  to  do 
but  to  apply  the  port-fire,  which  was  still  burning 
in  the  clenched  hand  of  a  dead  artillerist.  By  this 
time  the  column  had  fallen  back,  and  the  road  below 
the  first  angle  was  fast  filling  with  the  retreating 
mass.  I  had  never  before  witnessed  the  effusion  of 
blood ;  and,  heated  as  mine  now  was,  it  ran  cold  as 
[  applied  the  match.  As  the  smoke  cleared  off,  I 
saw  the  enemy  throwing  away  their  arms,  and 
stretching  out  their  hands,  some  toward  me,  and 


The  Partisan  Leader.  355- 

some  aloft  to  the  unseen  foe  that  galled  them  from 
the  hills.  The  fire  instantly  slackened,  and  cravats 
and  handkerchiefs  being  raised  on  the  points  of 
swords  and  bayonets,  it  ceased  altogether.  The 
mountaineers  now  poured  down  from  the  hills  into 
the  ravine,  securing  the  arms  of  the  enemy,  mixing 
among  them  and  hemming  them  in  on  every  side. 
Douglas,  whose  place,  since  he  had  recrossed  the 
river,  had  been  among  these  concealed  marksmen, 
was  one  of  the  first  to  approach  the  enemy.  Advanc 
ing  to  those  whose  rank  was  most  conspicuous,  he 
made  known  his  authority,  and  received  their  swords. 
Meantime  Col.  Trevor  had  recovered  his  senses, 
and  found  himself  fastened  to  the  ground  by  the 
weight  of  his  horse,  which  lay  upon  his  leg.  He 
was  presently  discovered,  relieved,  and  helped  to 
rise.  At  this  moment  he  caught  the  eye  of  Douglas, 
who  hastened  to  him,  less  from  impatience  to 
demand  his  sword,  than  to  offer  assistance  to  one 
who  seemed  to  be  an  officer  of  high  rank,  and  badly 
wounded.  In  the  figure  before  him,  all  smeared 
with  blood  and  dirt,  he  saw  nothing  by  which  lie 
could  recognize  his  brother.  To  the  Colonel,  the 
disguise  of  Douglas  was  hardly  less  complete.  He 
had  seen  him  receiving  the  surrender  of  others,  and 
stood  prepared  to  go  through  the  same  humiliating 
ceremony.  He  felt  that  his  own  disgrace  was  com 
plete,  and  the  form  of  surrender  was  thought  of  with 
indifference.  He  had  already  reached  the  lowest 
depth  of  abasement. 


356  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  But  in  that  lowest  depth  a  lower  deep"  seemed 
to  open,  when,  as  he  extended  his  hand  to  deliver 
his  sword  to  the  victor,  he  discovered  that  the  hand 
put  forth  to  receive  it  was  that  of  Douglas.  He 
flung  down  his  sword,  stamping  with  rage,  and  im 
mediately  after  called  to  his  men  to  resume  their 
arms.  The  voice  struck  the  ear  of  Douglas,  though 
dissonant  with  passion.  The  figure  too,  confirmed 
his  suspicion  of  the  truth ;  and  he  immediately 
rushed  to  screen  his  brother  with  his  own  body  from 
the  rifles  pointed  against  him.  Calling  for  aid  to 
those  around,  he  presently  succeeded  in  securing  the 
Colonel,  and  after  one  or  two  fruitless  attempts  to 
soothe  him,  ordered  him  away  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Gordon.  To  that  gentleman  he  spoke  aside,  and 
explaining  in  confidence  the  strange  scene  that  he 
had  just  witnessed,  besought  him  to  take  command 
of  the  escort,  and  to  pay  all  imaginable  attention  to 
the  health,  comfort,  and  feelings  of  the  Colonel. 
He  was  accordingly  led  away,  raging  and  foaming 
at  the  mouth  like  a  spoiled  child  who  has  been 
deprived  of  his  toy,  or  baulked  in  his  amusement. 
The  mortification  of  Douglas  was  extreme ;  but  he  had 
the  satisfaction  to  find  that  Arthur  was  not  present; 
and  to  no  other  person  but  Schwartz  and  myself  did 
the  name  of  Colonel  Trevor  afford  a  hint  of  the 
connexion. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  357 


CHAPTBE    XXXIX. 


-If  thou  didst  but  consent 


To  this  most  cruel  act,  do  but  despair; 

And  if  thou  want'st  a  cord,  the  smallest  thread 

That  ever  spider  twisted  from  her  womb 

Will  serve  to  strangle  thee ;  a  rush  will  be  . 

A.  beam  to  hang  thee  on  I  Or,  wouldst  thou  drown  thyself, 

Put  but  a  little  water  in  a  spoon, 

And  it  shall  be,  as  all  the  ocean, 

Enough  to  stifle  such  a  villain  ! 

I  SHALL  not  detain  the  reader  with  a  detail  of  the 
farther  particulars  of  this  skirmish.  Indeed  we  hardly 
stayed  to  acquaint  ourselves  with  its  exact  results.  As 
at  least  half  the  men  who  had  fought  under  Douglas 
on  that  day  had  no  intention  to  follow  him  any  farther, 
we  left  to  them  the  care  of  the  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners.  The  body  of  Col.  Mason  alone  was  selected 
for  a  more  honorable  burial  than  the  rude  hands  of 
the  mountaineers  could  bestow.  It  was  dragged  from 
beneath  the  incumbent  mass  of  men  and  horses,  placed 
on  a  suitable  carriage,  covered  with  the  colors  of  his 
regiment,  and  taken  to  Lynchburg,  to  be  there  re 
stored  to  his  companions  in  arms.  The  band  of  his 
regiment  were  also  marched  to  that  place  to  assist  in 
rendering  the  last  honors  to  their  late  commander. 


The   Partisan  Leader. 


Having  given  the  necessary  orders,  Douglas  snatched 
a  moment  to  ride  to  Mr.  Gordon's,  where  he  hoped  to 
find  his  brother  in  a  more  reasonable  mood.  The 
Colonel  had  been  confined  in  a  private  room  ;  and, 
being  treated  with  great  courtesy  and  respect,  had  lost 
nothing  of  his  arrogance.  Such  is  always  the  effect 
of  delicate  attention  to  the  undeserving.  A  man  of 
merit  would  have  been  softened  and  melted  by  the 
deference  with  which  Colonel  Trevor  was  treated.  To 
him  it  seemed  but  that  sort  of  spontaneous  homage  to 
greatness  which  the  heart  pays  unconsciously.  The 
effect  of  it  was,  that  being  told  by  Mr.  Gordon  that  his 
brother  had  come  to  visit  him  in  his  room,  he  sent 
him  the  following  magnanimous  note,  pencilled  on  the 
back  of  a  letter  : 

"  I  am  your  prisoner.  Do  with  me  as  you  please. 
Inflict  on  me  any  death,  however  cruel  ;  but  spare  me 
the  sight  of  one  whose  treasons  have  dishonored  our 
common  name,  and  who  has  deprived  me  of  my  only 
chance  to  restore  its  former  splendor." 

Douglas  was  inexpressibly  shocked  at  this  manifes 
tation  of  a  temper  at  once  savage  and  coldly  selfish. 
But  he  had  no  time  to  waste  in  parleying  with  the 
ungoverned  passions  of  his  brother,  and  wrote  an 
answer  in  these  words  : 

"  You  are  my  prisoner,  and  mine  only,  and  shall  be 
treated  with  all  tenderness  and  respect.  I  am  responsi 
ble  to  no  one  k>r  your  custody,  and  you  shall  soon  be 
at  liberty.  Go  home.  Go  to  our  venerable  father, 
and  comfort  his  declining  years.  If  the  instincts  of 


The  Partisan  Leader.  359 

your  "heart  do  not  restrain  you  from  fighting  against 
your  brothers  (for  Arthur  is  with  me),  let  a  sense  of 
honor  make  you  regard  yourself  as  a  prisoner  on 
parole,  not  at  liberty  to  fight  again  against  Virginia. 
Meantime  your  sword  shall  be  restored,  and  you  shall 
be  treated  in  all  things  as  the  brother  of  D.  T." 

While  Douglas  was  engaged  in  this  painful  duty, 
Arthur  was  employed  in  preparing  a  formal  report  of 
the  events  of  the  day.  This  was  signed  by  the 
Chief  on  his  return,  and  with  it  the  young  man  was 

despatched   to   B ,  with   instructions   to  ask  his 

orders,  and  return  with  them,  unless  another  messen 
ger  should  be  preferred.  In  the  meantime  all  things 
had  been  made  ready  for  the  march  to  Lynchburg.  I 
shall  not  give  the  history  of  this.  It  was  triumphal, 
as  far  as  complete  success  and  the  applauding  gratula- 
tions  of  the  people  could  make  it  so.  We  had  no 
difficulty  in  adding  to  our  numbers  as  many  men  as 
the  fruits  of  our  victory  enabled  us  to  supply  with 
arms.  Some  joined  us  instantly,  and  others  engaged 
to  rendezvous  at  Lynchburg  in  a  few  days. 

There  was  nothing  to  clamp  the  pleasure  of  Douglas, 
but  the  conduct  of  his  perverse  brother,  and  the  pre 
sence  of  the  dead  body  of  his  old  friend,  Colonel 
Mason.  On  our  arrival  before  the  camp  at  Lynch 
burg,  I  received  orders  to  present  myself  with  a  flag 
before  the  gate,  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  which 
escorted  the  body,  accompanied  by  the  music  of 
his  band,  and  all  the  sad  and  imposing  insignia  of  a 
military  funeral. 

8 


360  The  Partisan  Leader. 

An  officer  came  out  to  meet  us,  and  thus  received 
the  first  authentic  history  of  the  fate  of  the  expedi 
tion.  I  was  instructed  to  deliver  over  the  body  of 
Colonel  Mason  with  every  circumstance  of  respect 
and  courtesy.  I  was  also  charged  to  demand  the  sur 
render  of  the  entrenched  camp,  and  of  the  garrison  as 
prisoners  of  war. 

A  negotiation  ensued,  which  ended  in  a  suspension 
of  arms  for  five  days,  and  an  agreement  to  surrender 
if,  in  that  time,  no  reinforcement  arrived. 

This  arrangement  was  by  no  means  unwelcome  to 
Douglas.  It  gave  him  time  to  receive  and  organize 
the  new  recruits  that  were  pouring  in,  and  to  await 
the  return  of  Arthur.  In  the  meantime,  much  of  that 
sort  of  intercourse  which  is  common  on  such  occa 
sions  took  place.  There  are  few  things  in  life  more 
pleasant  than  it  is.  There  must  be  less  of  malignity 
in  human  nature  than  is  generally  supposed,  or  men 
would  not  seize,  with  so  much  eagerness,  on  oppor 
tunities  to  lose  the  idea  of  public  hostility  in  the 
kindly  interchange  of  courtesy  and  good  offices. 
Friendships  are  never  formed  more  suddenly  and  cor 
dially  than  under  such  circumstances.  So  we  found 
it  on  this  occasion.  Major  Wood,  the  officer  in  com 
mand,  was  a  gentleman  and  soldier,  honorable,  frank, 
generous,  and  accomplished.  I  was  brought  much 
into  contact  with  him,  and  found  him  enthusiastic  in 
his  acknowledgments  of  the  merits  of  Douglas,  and 
eager  to  become  acquainted  with  him.  But  the  time 
had  not  come  when  he  was  willing  to  be  known  by  his 


The  Partisan  Leader.  361 

true  name ;  and  besides  that  he  was  acquainted  with 
the  Major,  there  were  many  others  in  the  camp  who 
would  have  recognized  him.  He  therefore  confined 
himself  to  his  quarters,  on  various  pleas  of  business ; 
and,  to  make  his  seclusion  effectual,  took  lodgings  in 
a  house  in  the  suburbs  of  the  town.  By  his  advice, 
I  mixed  much  with  the  men ;  and,  as  I  had  acquitted 
myself  to  their  entire  satisfaction  in  the  late  affair,  I 
found  that  I  was  in  a  fair  way  to  be  recognized  as 
second  in  command.  Schwartz  and  Witt  made  a 
point  of  consulting  me  publicly  on  all  occasions  ;  and 
this  circumstance,  together  with  my  daily  attention  to 
the  organization  of  the  troops,  obtained  me  full  credit 
for  all  my  military  skill,  and  a  great  deal  more. 

The  five  days  passed  away  quite  pleasantly.  The 
regulars,  finding  that  they  were  not  like  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  savages,  were  becoming  reconciled  to  the 
fate  which  now  seemed  inevitable ;  and  we  parted  on 
the  last  night  of  the  truce,  with  no  unpleasant  antici 
pations  of  the  surrender  which  was  to  take  place  the 
next  day  at  noon. 

The  morning  came,  and  our  men  paraded  in  high 
spirits,  and  with  considerable  show  of  order  and  disci 
pline.  This  was  particularly  the  case  with  a  small 
company  which  had  been  detailed  for  the  service  of 
the  artillery,  who  took  their  stand  at  the  guns  with 
the  air  of  men  proud  of  their  new  acquirements.  I 
had  indeed  taken  great  pains  to  train  and  exercise 
them,  and,  by  universal  consent,  was  recognized  as 
the  immediate  commander  of  this  corps,  which  was 


362  The  Partisan  Leader. 

drawn  up  with  the  cannon  planted  directly  against  the 
gate  of  the  camp. 

All  this  time  Douglas  did  not  make  his  appearance. 
At  length  the  hour  approached  for  the  garrison  to 
march  out,  and  lay  down  their  arms,  when  Schwartz 
went  to  his  quarters  to  receive  his  orders.  He  soon 
returned,  and  taking  me  aside,  told  me  that  Douglas 
was  not  at  his  quarters,  and  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen. 

We  had  already  observed  appearances  in  the  camp 
not  at  all  answerable  to  the  expected  surrender,  and 
I  was  now  startled  at  this  intelligence.  The  character 
of  Major  Wood  forbade  indeed  any  suspicion  of  foul 
play.  But  the  time  was  near  at  hand  when  the  enemy 
should  march  out,  and  we  heard  nothing  of  their 
drums,  calling  the  men  to  parade.  We  determined, 
therefore,  to  send  a  flag  to  the  camp  on  some  pretext. 
The  officer  who  carried  it  was  immediately  warned 
off,  and  having  said  that  he  had  a  communication  for 
Major  Wood,  was  told  that  that  officer  was  no  longer 
in  command,  and  that  COL.  TREVOR  would  receive  no 
communication  from  rebels  and  traitors. 

This  was  decisive.  The  quarters  of  Douglas  were 
not  very  distant  from  the  enemy,  and  such  had  been 
the  appearance  of  perfect  good  faith  in  all  their  pro 
ceedings,  that  our  camp  had  been  guarded  even  more 
negligently  than  is  common  with  militia.  It  seemed, 
indeed,  almost  incredible  that  Col.  Trevor  could  have 
been  guilty  of  an  act  of  base  treachery  against  the 
life  or  liberty  of  his  generous  brother  ;  but  to  Schwartz 


The  Partisan  Leader.  363 

and  myself,  who  knew  the  connexion,  even  this  seemed 
hardly  less  extravagant  than  his  former  conduct.  That 
he  had  escaped,  joined  the  troops,  and  disclaimed  the 
capitulation  entered  into  by  Major  Wood,  was  certain. 
To  have  surprised  and  carried  off  Douglas  could  not 
be  much  worse. 

We  now  consulted  with  Witt,  to  whom  we  commu 
nicated  our  suspicions,  at  the  same  time  disclosing 
the  true  name  of  our  young  commander,  and  his  rela 
tion  to  Col.  Trevor.  What  was  suspicion  with  us, 
was  at  once  absolute  certainty  with  him.  I  do  not 
think  I  ever  witnessed  such  a  change  as  our  communi 
cation  made  in  the  whole  appearance  and  demeanor 
of  the  man.  Heretofore,  I  had  always  seen  him  cool, 
cautious,  deliberate,  and  thoughtful.  There  was, 
besides,  a  prevailing  tone  of  benevolence  in  all  he 
said,  which,  added  to  his  sobriety  and  strong  sense, 
gave  him  some  claim  to  the  title  of  philosopher.  But 
now  the  expression  of  his  countenance  was  terrible 
and  awful.  He  had  made  no  show  of  regard  for 
Douglas ;  but  his  attachment  was  deep  and  abiding, 
and  his  alarm  for  his  safety  was  in  the  same  degree. 
He  was  impatient  of  a  moment's  delay,  sternly  pro 
tested  against  wasting  time  in  discussion,  and  insisted 
on  immediately  storming  the  camp. 

Schwartz  was  nothing  behind  him  in  zeal,  though 
less  disturbed  by  passion  ;  and  we  presently  deter 
mined  to  bring  matters  to  extremities.  As  soon, 
therefore,  as  the  hour  appointed  for  surrender  arrived, 
our  captive  drummer  was  ordered  to  beat  a  parley. 


364  The  Partisan   Leader. 

To  this  the  only  answer  was  a  general  fire  of  musketry 
from  the  whole  line  of  the  camp  on  that  side,  by  which 
a  few  men  were  hurt.  But  the  distance  was  too  great 
for  any  serious  mischief.  Enough,  however,  was  done 
to  excite  the  men  to  fury ;  and  without  waiting  for 
the  word,  they  rushed  to  the  assault.  Their  move 
ment  determined  me.  To  rush  up  to  the  piqueted 
entrenchment,  behind  which  the  enemy  were  in  com 
parative  safety,  was  to  expose  themselves  to  destruc 
tion.  It  was  indispensable  to  open  a  way  for  -them. 
This  I  effected  by  a  discharge  of  both  pieces  of  artil 
lery,  which  tore  the  gate  away,  and  pointed  their 
attack  to  this  accessible  point.  The  moment  after, 
Colonel  Trevor,  with  his  untractable  rashness,  appeared 
in  the  gateway,  shouting,  and  calling  to  his  men  tc 
sally  forth  against  us.  He  was  instantly  recognized 
by  the  incensed  "Witt,  whose  fatal  aim  brought  him  to 
the  ground.  His  men  fell  back ;  and  in  a  moment 
after  a  white  flag  was  raised. 

It  was  no  easy  matter  to  prevail  on  our  men  to 
pay  any  regard  to  this  signal ;  but  we  succeeded  in 
restraining  them  before  it  was  too  late.  Of  course 
we  demanded  the  instant  surrender  of  the  place, 
which  was  unhesitatingly  given  up.  Major  Wood 
now  came  forward  to  apologize  and  explain.  Col. 
Trevor,  having  made  his  escape,  had  returned  to  the 
camp  soon  after  tattoo.  His  whole  behavior  was 
that  of  a  man  beside  himself,  and  actuated  by  some 
inscrutable  motive  to  some  inscrutable  purpose.  Of 
these  he  said  nothing  to  his  officers,  but  peremptorily 


The  Partisan  Leader.  365 

disclaiming  the  capitulation,  gave  orders  that  all 
things  should  be  prepared  for  a  renewal  of  hostilities 
the  next  morning.  Nothing  more  was  known  but 
that  he  had  summoned  to  his  quarters  a  favorite 
sergeant  of  his  own  regiment,  who  had  been  left 
sick  in  camp  when  he  marched  against  Douglas. 
This  sergeant  and  four  soldiers,  as  it  seemed  from 
the  morning  report,  had  disappeared  in  the  night. 

Major  Wood  assured  us,  that  all  that  had  been 
since  done  had  taken  place  under *the  immediate 
orders  and  superintendence  of  Colonel  Trevor,  and 
in  spite  of  his  own  most  earnest  remonstrances.  In 
proof  of  his  sincerity,  he  appealed  to  the  fact  of  his 
unconditional  surrender  the  moment  he  was  apprised 
of  the  fall  of  the  Colonel.  With  all  this  I  was  per 
fectly  satisfied,  and  gladly  returned  him  his  sword, 
with  a  proper  acknowledgment  of  his  gentlemanly 
conduct. 

"  And  now,  Major,"  said  Schwartz,  "there  is 
another  matter  we  want  to  talk  to  you  about.  Do 
you  know  any  thing  of  our  Captain  ?" 

"  Of  Captain  Douglas  ?"  said  the  Major.  "  Cer 
tainly  not.  But  I  hope  I  may  now  have  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  him." 

"Look  here,  Major,"  said  Witt,  whose  eye  still 
glared  with  ferocity  not  at  all  abated  by  the  fall  of 
Trevor;  "that  a'nt  the  thing;  and  we  want  a 
straight  answer.  Captain  Douglas  is  missing,  and 
we  want  to  know  what's  become  of  him." 

"Missing  !"  said  the  Major,  with  unfeigned  amaze- 


366  The  Partisan  Leader. 

ment.     "  I  assure  you,  upon  my  honor,  I  know  no 
thing  of  him." 

"  Is  there  any  body  here  that  knows,  or  is  like  to 
know  ?"  said  Schwartz. 

"  None  that  I  can  imagine,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Is  there  not  a  Captain  here,"  asked  Schwartz ; 
"  a  red-headed  fellow,  that  commands  the  company 
at  Farmville  ?" 

"  Captain  Cottle  ?     Yes." 

"  Well,  I  want  to  see  him." 

He  was  immediately  summoned,  and  presently 
made  his  reluctant  appearance.  His  alarm  increased 
on  seeing  Schwartz  and  Witt. 

"See  here,  Mister,"  said  the  former;  "bore  is  a 
piece  of  villany  that  we  want  to  know  about ;  and 
there  is  nobody,  I  reckon,  so  apt  to  tell  us  as 
you." 

"Indeed,  sir,"  said  Cottle,  "I  declare,  sir,  I  don't 
know  a  word  about  it." 

"You  don't,  eh!"  said  Schwartz.  "Well,  any 
how,  you  are  mighty  quick  to  find  out  that  you  don't 
know  ;  that  I  must  say  for  you." 

"  Did  }Tou  ever  see  me  before  ?"  said  Witt,  fixing 
his  terrible  eye  on  the  alarmed  Captain.  "  Did  you 
ever  see  me  before  ?"  repeated  he.  "  Do  you  remem 
ber  where  it  was  ?  Do  you  remember  your  busine& 
there ;  and  did  you  ever  hear  of  such  a  thing  as  a 
man  being  hung  for  a  spy  ?" 

The  collapse  of  deadly  terror  came  over  Cottle  at 
these  dreadful  words.  His  face,  already  pale,  became 


The  Partisan  Leader.  367 

livid ;  his  eye  no  longer  blenched  under  the  fearful 
glance  of  Witt ;  but  the  lids  opened  as  if  by  mutual 
repulsion,  while  his  lip  and  under  jaw  fell  power 
less.  He  was  roused  from  this  state  by  Schwartz, 
who  asked  him  what  had  become  of  Captain  Doug 
las. 

lie  was  now  effectually  scared  out  of  all  thought 
of  concealment,  and  answered  without  prevarication 
that  Captain  Douglas  had  been  surprised,  during  the 
night,  by  the  order  of  Col.  Trevor,  and  sent  away 
immediately  under  the  guard  of  a  sergeant  and  four 
men,  across  the  river.  He  could  not  say,  certainly, 
where  he  was  gone  ;  but  he  suspected  to  Washington, 
as  Col.  Trevor  appeared  to  have  been  writing  busily 
all  the  time  the  party  were  engaged  in  the  capture 
of  Douglas.  It  was  vain  to  attempt  concealing  that 
he  had  a  hand  in  this,  though  the  disclosure  was 
made  with  great  reluctance.  It  appeared,  moreover, 
that  he  had  been  anxious  to  accompany  the  prisoner, 
supposing  him  to  be  ordered  for  Washington  ;  but 
Col.  Trevor  had  refused  to  send  him.  Indeed,  he 
sent  none  but  those  who  had  not  been  engaged  in  the 
action  at  the  ford,  and  was  certainly  right  not  to  trust 
the  vain  babbler,  whose  idle  garrulity  could  hardly 
have  failed  to  rub  off  any  gloss  he  might  have 
thought  fit  to  spread  over  the  affair. 

"  How  did  they  get  across  the  river  ?"  asked 
Schwartz.  "  We  have  a  strong  guard  on  the  othe. 
side,  and  they  had  orders  to  keep  a  strict  watch." 

'  Col.  Trevor  told  the  sergeant,"  replied  Cottle, 
8* 


368  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"just  to  float  quietly  down  the  river  and  land  away 
below;  and  a  handkerchief  was  tied  over  the  Cap 
tain's  mouth  to  keep  him  from  making  a  noise,  and 
if  he  did,  they  were  ordered  to  shoot  him." 

I  have  no  words  to  express  the  horror  with  which 
I  heard  this  last  circumstance.  I  trusted,  and  indeed 
Major  Wood  seemed  to  be  of  that  opinion,  that  Col. 
Trevor  had  really  been  beside  himself;  but  regarding 
his  conduct  even  as  the  effect  of  frenzy,  it  was  hardly 
less  shocking.  From  Schwartz  the  communication 
only  called  forth  some  pithy  expressions  of  detesta 
tion,  without  seeming  to  interrupt  the  working  of  his 
thoughts,  which  were  at  once  busy  to  devise  some 
remedy  for  the  evil. 

Witt  was  differently  affected.  His  whole  frame 
and  countenance  assumed  an  appearance  of  stony 
rigidity,  betokening  fixed  and  fearful  purpose.  He 
turned  his  glaring  eye  to  the  spot  where  Col.  Trevor 
had  fallen,  with  an  expression  that  showed  his  ven 
geance  quite  unsatisfied.  A  glance  of  fierce  scorn 
fell  for  a  moment  on  Cottle ;  and  then,  with  a  search 
ing  look,  he  addressed  himself  to  Major  Wood. 

"  Major  Wood,"  said  he,  with  a  voice  whose  deep, 
stern  tones,  demanded  the  truth  and  the  whole  truth, 
"  did  you  know  any  thing  of  this  business  ?" 

"  Upon  my  honor,  I  did  not ;  and  Captain  Cottle, 
who  did  know,  will  tell  you  so." 

"  I  would  hardly  take  his  word  against  himself" 
said  Witt,  with  cold  contempt,  and  not  even  turning 
his  eye  on  Cottle.  Then  pausing  a  moment,  he 


The  Partisan  Leader.  369 

added,  with  the  same  look  of  severe  scrutiny, 
u  Major  Wood,  do  yon  know  who  Captain  Douglas 
is?  Do  you  know  that  he  is  Col.  Trevor's  own 
brother  ?" 

"  Great  God  !"  exclaimed  the  Major.  "  Douglas 
Trevor !  That  fine,  intelligent,  accomplished,  noble 
young  man  !" 

"  Did  you  know  him  ?"  asked  the  other. 

"  I  did,"  said  Wood,  "  and  loved  him  well.  Poor 
fellow  !  Poor  fellow  !  His  doom  is  sealed." 

"  That's  enough,"  said  Witt.  "  I  see  now  that  yon 
had  no  hand  in  it.  But  is  it  not  your  duty,  Major 
Wood,  to  bring  back  Captain  Douglas  and  set  him 
at  liberty  ?" 

u  Would  to  God  that  I  could,"  said  the  Major  ; 
"  but  he  is  quite  beyond  my  reach  before  this." 

"  See  here,  Major,"  said  Schwartz  ;  "  write  an 
order  to  that  sergeant  to  bring  him  back,  and  give 
me  a  pass  to  follow  him  without  being  stopped,  and 
I  will  have  him  back  in  no  time.  Them  fellows  lost 
ground  here  crossing  the  river,  and  I  can  catch 
them." 

"That  might  do,"  said  the  Major,  hesitatingly; 
"  and  I  am  bound  in  honor  to  do  it,  because  his  cap 
ture  was  a  breach  of  my  truce.  But  I  shall  never 
be  forgiven.  No  matter ;  it  shall  be  done  if  they 
break  me  for  it." 

"  You  may  thank  the  Major,"  said  Witt,  turning 
his  implacable  eye  on  Cottle,  "  for  that  word  ;  for  it 
has  given  you  a  chance  for  your  life.  But  for  that, 


370  The  Partisan  Leader. 

you  would  have  heen  hanging  like  a  dog  in  half  an 
hour.  Now,  Major,  I  don't  want  you  to  come  to  any 
harm  ;  and  so  you  shall  have  a  fair  excuse.  Bring 
Captain  Douglas  back  to  us,  and  we  will  let  this 
fellow  go.  But  if  the  Captain  is  not  here  before  the 
week  is  out,  then,  as  sure  as  there  is  a  God  in  Heaven, 
he  shall  be  hanged  for  a  spy,  as  he  is." 

There  is  a  difference  between  the  certainty  of  being 
hanged  in  half  an  hour,  and  a  chance  of  escape, 
however  unpromising.  To  Captain  Cottle,  who  had 
not  ventured  nearer  to  Jones's  Ford  than  the  rear  of 
the  dragoons,  and  who  was  now  in  greater  peril  than 
he  had  ever  willingly  encountered,  the  difference 
was  of  great  importance.  Yet  his  hopes  were  faint, 
for  he  had  heard  the  orders  of  Trevor,  which  en 
joined  despatch ;  and  he  was  equally  earnest  in 
hurrying  the  Major  and  Schwartz.  His  impertinence 
was  cut  short  by  ordering  him  to  close  custody  in 
jail ;  and  the  credentials  of  Schwartz  being  soon 
prepared,  he  set  out  on  his  journey. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  371 


CHAPTEK    XL. 

That  lies  like  truth,  and  yet  most  truly  lies. 

LET  us  again  intrude  into  the  sanctuary  of  majesty. 
The  President  is  alone  as  before.  He  has  the  same 
air  of  somewhat  impatient  expectation.  A  shade  of 
anxious  thought  is  on  his  brow,  and  his  cheek  is 
flushed  with  some  little  excitement.  Yet  these  ele 
ments  are  all  so  mixed  as  to  be  scarcely  perceptible  ; 
and  were  he  conscious  that  we  are  looking  at  him, 
they  would  be  completely  concealed.  On  the  table 
lie  a  number  of  letters  recently  received.  Two  of 
them  are  separated  from  the  rest.  He  takes  up  one 
and  reads  it  a  second  time.  Let  us  look  over  him. 
It  runs  thus  : 

"The  wisest  may  be  deceived  ;  the  most  vigilant 
may  be  betrayed :  for  the  MOST  trusted  are  often  the 
most  treacherous.  CAUTION." 

"  What  means  this  ??'  said  the  President,  musingly. 
"  Who  is  it  that  I  am  warned  against  ?  The  word 
i  MOST  '  is  underscored.  Who  does  that  point  at  ? 
Whom  do  I  trust  most?  I  trust  nobody.  But  I 
seem  to  trust ;  and  whom  most  f  Surely  it  cannot 
be  he.  I  should,  indeed,  be  wrong  to  trust  to  his 
fidelity.  But  he  is  too  wise  to  be  false  to  his  own 


372  The  Partisan  Leader. 

interest.     But  may  he  not  have  an  interest  that  I  am 
not  aware  of?     It  must  be  considered." 

He  then  took  up  the  other  letter,  which  I  beg 
leave  to  lay  before  the  reader,  as  a  specimen  of  the 
art  with  which  the  truth  may  be  so  told  as  to  make 
others  believe  what  is  false.  I  recommend  it  par 
ticularly  to  military  gentlemen,  reporting  the  results 
of  a  battle. 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  CAMP  NEAR  LYNCHBURG, 
November  12,  1849. 

Sm :  I  have  the  honor  to  lay  before  your  Excel 
lency  an  account  of  the  operations  of  the  troops 
under  my  command,  since  the  date  of  my  last  de 
spatch. 

In  pursuance  of  the  information  I  had  received,  of 
which  your  Excellency  has  been  already  advised,  I 
marched  on  the  third  inst,  at  the  head  of  my  own 
regiment,  one  battalion  of  the  15th,  a  company  of 
artillery,  and  one  of  dragoons,  to  meet  Douglas  on 
his  descent  from  the  mountains.  At  Jones's  Ford, 
on  Staunton  river,  I  encountered  him,  when  about 
half  his  force  had  crossed  over.  I  attacked  him 
immediately;  and,  after  a  sharp  conflict,  drove  him 
across  the  river.  By  the  advice  of  Col.  Mason,  I 
left  the  artillery  and  dragoons  on  the  north  bank,  to 
protect  our  rear,  placing  them  under  the  command 
of  that  distinguished  officer. 

Pressing  hard  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  we 
came  up  with  him  just  as  he  had  fallen  back  on  the 


The  Partisan  Leader.  373 

reserve.  Here  he  rallied,  and  the  fight  was  renewed. 
I  regret  to  say  that,  at  the  first  fire,  my  horse  fell 
under  me,  imprisoning  my  leg  by  his  fall.  At  the 
same  moment  a  ball  struck  my  head,  and  I  came  to 
the  ground  insensible. 

You  will  judge  my  astonishment,  when,  on  reco 
vering  my  senses,  I  found  that  all  my  men  near  me 
had  thrown  down  their  arms,  and  that  I  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  who  assisted  me  to  rise.  I 
immediately  called  to  my  men  to  resume  their  arms  ; 
but  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  I  was  not  obeyed. 
As  I  had  not  surrendered,  I  was  seized  and  hurried 
away  to  the  house  of  a  ring-leader  of  these  rebels, 
where  I  was  confined.  From  that  time  I  had  no 
means  of  receiving  any  information  on  which  I  could 
rely  concerning  the  events  of  the  day,  as  I  had  no 
intercourse  with  any  but  the  rebels. 

Two  days  ago  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  make  my 
escape.  Returning  to  this  place,  I  find  my  camp, 
which  had  been  left  under  the  command  of  Major 
"Wood,  beleaguered  by  the  rebels,  and  a  treaty  for  sur 
render  in  fiill  progress.  I  rejoice  that  I  have  returned 
in  time  to  prevent  a  consummation  so  disgraceful. 

It  is  now  midnight,  and  a  small  party  has  been 
sent  out  to  endeavor  to  surprise  the  leader  of  this 
banditti.  In  the  meantime  all  things  are  put  in 
readiness  for  a  sortie  in  the  morning.  I  shall  not 
close  my  letter  until  I  can  give  some  further  account 
of  the  success  of  these  operations. 

Two  o'clock,   A.M. — My  scouts   have    come  in, 


374  The  Partisan  Leader. 

and  brought  in  the  hostile  chief,  who  proves  to  be 
the  last  man  in  the  world  whom  I  could  have  wished 
to  find  in  arms  against  the  generous  master  who  so 
well  deserved  his  grateful  devotion.  I  speak  of  that 
unfortunate  youth,  whose  fault  (I  must  not  use  a 
harsher  term),  nearly  twelve  months  ago,  dishonored 
our  common  name  and  parentage.  Your  Excellency 
will  appreciate  the  struggle  in  my  bosom,  between 
a  sense  of  duty  and  the  foolish  but  inextinguishable 
relentings  of  nature.  1  have  determined  to  put  an 
end  to  this  painful  strife,  and  to  take  security  against 
my  own  weakness,  by  sending  him  on  immediately 
to  you,  without  awaiting  the  result  of  the  meditated 
sortie  in  the  morning.  He  therefore  travels  in  cus 
tody  of  the  bearer  of  this  letter,  under  guard  of  a 
sergeant  and  four  men. 

Having  returned  to  the  camp  this  night,  after 
tattoo,  I  am  unprepared  to  give  any  account  of  our 
loss,  or  that  of  the  enemy.  I  have  nothing  authentic 
but  the  lamented  death  of  Col.  Mason,  who  fell  fight 
ing  bravely. 

I  beg  leave  to  express  an  humble  hope,  that  your 
Excellency  will  be  pleased  to  attribute  the  partial 
failure  of  my  enterprise  to  the  unfortunate  wound 
which  put  me  hors  du  combat,  at  a  moment,  up  to 
which  we  had  successfully  driven  the  enemy  before 
us  for  nearly  half  a  mile  and  across  the  river. 

I  remain,  sir,  with  the  most  profound  respect,  your 
Excellency's  most  humble  and  faithful  servant, 

OWEN  TREVOK,  Col.  18th  Inf. 


The  Partisan  Leader. 


"  A  worthy  gentleman,"  said  the  President,  fold 
ing  up  the  letter.  "  A  most  worthy  gentleman  !  Let 
any  man  doubt  henceforth,  if  he  can,  that  the  only 
way  to  judge  in  advance  of  what  a  man  will  do,  is  to 
ascertain  his  interest.  See  how  readily  it  settled  this 
nice  point  of  casuistry  —  this  delicate  question  of  con 
flicting  duties.  Trust  !  Yes,  I  will  trust  ;  but  not  as 
fools  do.  I  will  trust  no  man's  honor,  but-every  man's 
interest.  The  experience  of  my  whole  life  has  taught 
the  lesson,  and  every  day  confirms  it.  Here  comes 
a  new  example,"  added  he,  as  the  door-bell  sounded, 
and  was  echoed  by  the  single  stroke  in  the  room. 

The  door  opened,  and  the  honorable  Mr.  Baker  ap 
peared.  His  figure  had  lost  nothing  of  its  deferential 
bend  ;  his  step  nothing  of  its  creeping,  cautious 
tread  ;  his  countenance  nothing  of  its  abject  servility. 
But  there  was  more  of  anxiety  and  less  of  hope, 
with  a  slight  appearance  of  peevish  dissatisfaction. 

"You  are  very  good,  my  dear  sir,"  said  the 
President.  "  You  are  always  almost  present  to  my 
wish.  Government  would  be  an  easy  task,  were 
all  officers  like  you." 

"  I  humbly  thank  your  Excellency,"  replied  the 
Judge.  "  Were  not  your  approbation  precious  to 
me,  I  might  be  tempted  perhaps  to  look  more  than 
I  ought  to  public  opinion.  Perhaps  I  do  so,  as  it  is; 
for  though  my  duties  are  clearly  necessary  to  the 
good  of  the  State,  I  find  it  hard  to  bear  the  loud 
reproaches  of  a  misjudging  multitude,  that  reach  me 
through  a  factious  press." 


The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  Let  it  not  reach  yon,  my  dear  sir.  The  storm 
does  but  rage  without.  Why  need  yon  hear  it  when 
it  touches  yon  not?  Shut  your  ears  and  sleep 
soundly ;  or  open  them  only  to  the  more  pleasant 
tones  that  issue  from  loyal  lips.  I  take  care  not  to 
know  what  is  said  of  me  by  malcontent  scribblers ; 
but  I  hardly  natter  myself  that  I  should  preserve 
my  equanimity,  if  I  read  all  that  is  written." 

"It  is  sometimes  impossible  not  to  hear,"  said 
the  Judge ;  "  and  there  are  words  which  convey 
reproach,  which,  though  uttered  in  a  single  breath, 
reach  the  heart.  I  can  never,  I  fear,  make  myself 
proof  against  such  a  phrase  as  'judicial  murder.' ' 

"  But  you  must  find  consolation  in  your  own 
enlightened  conscience,  my  dear  sir.  Some  feeling 
must  be  expected  when  the  edge  of  the  law  falls  on 
victims  whose  offences  demand  punishment,  and  yet 
are  such  as  those  the  world  calls  honorable  and  up 
right  are  most  likely  to  commit." 

"  The  misfortune  is,"  replied  the  other,  "  that  it 
is  only  for  such  offences,  and  on  such  victims,  that 
my  office  seems  to-  be  made  to  act ;  and  when  the 
curse  rises  up  against  me,  loud  as  well  as  deep,  and 
uttered  and  echoed  on  every  side,  I  pray  your  Ex 
cellency  to  pardon  me,  when  I  say,  that  I  find  its 
honors  and  emoluments  a  poor  compensation." 

"  It  will  be  some  relief  to  you,  then,"  replied  the 
President,  "  that  you  are  like  to  have  a  subject  of  a 
different  sort  to  act  upon.  One  whose  crimes  offend 
against  the  laws  of  God  as  well  as  man  ;  and  who  is 


The  Partisan  Leader.  377 

not  more  obnoxious  to  State  policy  than  to  the 
detestation  of  all  good  men,  and  of  none  more  than 
yourself." 

"  Of  whom  is  your  Excellency  pleased  to  speak  ?" 
asked  Mr.  Baker. 

"  Of  no  other  than  that  young  fellow,  Trevor, 
whose  ill  luck  snatched  him  away  from  our  hands, 
when  perhaps  he  was  not  quite  ripe  for  punishment. 
But  he  has  since  made  himself  perfect  in  crime,  by 
becoming  the  leader  of  a  desperate  banditti.  In 
short,  he  is  no  other  than  the  famous  Captain  Doug 
las,  and  is  now  in  my  power.  I  think  you  will  find 
in  his  case  a  fair  set-off  against  some  of  the  mortifi 
cations  of  which  you  complain  ;  and  think  no  more 
of  denying  your  services  to  the  public,  at  least  until 
he  has  fulfilled  his  destiny." 

The  effect  of  this  communication  on  the  mind  of 
the  honorable  gentleman,  was  such  as  the  President 
had  anticipated.  To  every  being  of  the  name  of 
Trevor  he  bore  a  mortal  antipathy.  In  the  case  of 
Douglas,  this  was  rendered  more  intense  by  the  sym 
pathy  of  a  father  with  a  favorite  son.  An  envious 
malignity  was  a  striking  feature  in  the  characters 
both  of  father  and  son  ;  and  this  had  been  provoked 
to  the  utmost  by  that  unfortunate  young  man.  Both 
were  sensible  that  the  younger  Baker  had  been  in 
bad  odor  with  the  public,  ever  since  the  affair  at  the 
falls  ;  and  hence,  it  was  not  only  grateful  to  their 
malice,  but  to  their  pride,  to  fasten  on  Douglas  a 
stigma  so  dishonorable  as  to  have  relation  back,  and 


378  The  Partisan  Leader. 

to  excuse  his  adversary  with  those  who  did  not 
know  all  the  circumstances,  for  not  seeking  such 
redress  as  gentlemen  demand  of  gentlemen  only. 

The  good  humor  of  the  Judge  was  now  manifestly 
restored,  and  the  President  went  on  to  give  him  some 
particulars  of  the  late  military  occurrences.  Douglas, 
he  said,  was  on  the  road,  and  would  reach  Washing 
ton  the  next  day.  The  letter,  it  seems,  had  been 
brought  by  a  soldier  who  had  orders  to  outgo  the 
rest  of  the  party,  and  ride  express  to  Washington. 

"  It  is  well;"  said  the  President,  "  that  I  have 
this  timely  intimation  of  his  approach.  The  custody 
of  State  prisoners  cannot  be  safely  entrusted  to  any 
but  the  military  ;  and  that  of  this  young  man  must 
be  committed  to  no  corps  in  which  he  had  any 
acquaintance.  It  seems  that  he  was  a  universal 
favorite  among  men  and  officers.  I  am  about  to  take 
measures  to  guard  against  any  such  blunder." 

In  such  conversation  half  an  hour  was  passed,  when 
the  Minister  made  his  appearance.  He  had  been 
sent  for,  and  to  him  the  President  communicated  the 
history  of  the  capture  of  Douglas.  Had  he  turned 
an  eye  of  close  scrutiny  on  the  favorite,  at  the  mo 
ment  when  he  uttered  the  name,  and  announced  the 
fate  of  his  victim,  he  might  have  seen  a  slight 
expression  of  countenance,  which  it  would  not  have 
been  easy  to  interpret.  But  this  escaped  him  ;  and 
he  went  on  to  direct  that  the  true  name  of  the  pri- 
eoner  should  be  kept  secret ;  that  his  arrival  should 
be  watched  for ;  and  that  he  should  be  at  once  con- 


The  Partisan  Leader.  379 

ducted  to  a  place  provided  for  the  separate  confine 
ment  of  State  prisoners.  It  was,  moreover,  ordered, 
that  a  detail  of  officers  and  men  for  that  prison  should 
be  carefully  made,  so  as  to  exclude  any  persons 
whose  loyalty  was  at  all  doubtful ;  and  especially  all 
who,  from  former  associations,  could  be  supposed  to 
feel  any  kindness  for  Douglas. 

Finally,  it  was  agreed  that,  should  he  arrive  in  the 
course  of  that  night,  or  the  next  day,  he  should  be 
brought,  on  the  following  night,  before  the  triumvi 
rate,  in  the  room  where  they  then  were. 

"  You  were  right,"  continued  the  President,  ad 
dressing  his  Minister,  "  when  you  said  that  this 
young  man  had  talent.  The  discovery  of  his  identity 
explains  the  marvellous  organization  and  efficiency 
of  that  wild  banditti  that  he  commanded.  His 
capture  must  be  fatal  to  their  future  success.  They 
must  be  powerless  now  that  they  have  lost  their 
leader,  and  must  soon  disband.  That  is  well.  The 
two  regiments  may  now  be  marched  from  Lynchburg 
to  Richmond,  and  save  us  the  necessity  of  sending  a 
reinforcement  from  this  quarter.  The  troops  there, 
with  this  aid,  will  certainly  be  sufficient  to  check  the 
insurrectionary  movements  that  we  hear  of  in  the 
southern  counties,  and  to  cover  the  meeting  of  the 
Legislature.  Col.  Trevor  has  certainly  deserved  well. 
I  am  afraid  his  unfortunate  wound  may  have  occa 
sioned  the  loss  of  more  men  than  we  could  well 
spare,  who  seem  to  have  surrendered  while  he  wras 
insensible.  But  the  disbanding  of  Douglas's  corps 


380  The  Partisan  Leader. 

will,  of  course,  set  them  at  liberty  to  return  to  their 
duty.  But  this  takes  nothing  from  Col.  Trevor's 
merit.  He  must  be  brevetted.  As  to  Major  Wood, 
in  the  regular  course  he  should  succeed  Mason ;  but 
I  must  hear  more  of  this  negotiation  for  a  surrender 
of  his  post,  before  he  is  promoted.  That  affair  must 
be  satisfactorily  explained,  or  he  will  hardly  escape 
a  court-martial." 

The  President  now  went  on  to  give  some  farther 
orders,  and  then  dismissed  his  guests. 


The  Partisan  Leader.  381 


OHAPTEK    XLI. 

Treason  can  never  take  a  form  so  hideous, 
But  it  will  find  a  glass,  that  shall  reflect 
A  comely  semblance,  on  which  self  may  look 
With  a  complacent  smile. 

ON  his  departure  from  Lynchburg,  Schwartz  had 
been  provided  with  a  suit  of  clothes  half  military,  to 
prevent  the  notice  which  his  rude  mountain  attire 
would  have  attracted.  The  day  was  half  spent  be 
fore  he  was  on  the  road,  and  the  sergeant  and  his 
party  were  already  far  in  advance  of  him. 

Colonel  Trevor  had  been  desirous,  for  obvious 
reasons,  that  his  letter  and  prisoner  should  reach 
Washington  as  soon  as  possible,  and  had  ordered 
the  party  to  proceed  with  all  practicable  despatch. 
But,  as  they  might  be  somewhat  retarded  by  the 
necessary  care  of  their  prisoner,  he  had  directed  that 
the  letter  should  be  sent  on,  as  we  have  seen,  by  a 
single  soldier,  who  had  reached  Washington  on  the 
second  night.  But  the  sergeant  was  not  far  behind, 
and  had  used  such  diligence  that  he  crossed  the 
bridge  the  next  morning  at  an  early  hour,  just  as 
poor  Schwartz  came  in  sight. 

He  recognized  the  party  by  the  peculiar  dress  of 


382  The  Partisan  Leader. 

Douglas,  with  which  he  was  so  familiar  ;  but  it  was 
too  late.  He  followed,  however,  disconcerted  by  his 
failure,  but  not  desponding.  At  the  farther  end  of 
the  bridge  he  was  struck  with  the  countenance  and 
manner  of  a  fine-looking  young  man,  of  genteel  but 
plain  appearance,  who  stood  gazing  earnestly  after 
the  prisoner  and  his  guard. 

Observing  Schwartz,  he  asked  eagerly  who  the 
prisoner  was,  and  was  told  it  was  Captain  Douglas. 

"  Good  God !"  exclaimed  he,  in  a  tone  of  deep 
concern  ;  uis  it  possible?  But  thank  God!  it  is  HO 
worse." 

"  Did  you  think  it  was  any  body  you  knew  ?" 
asked  the  quick-witted  Schwartz. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  other.  "  I  was  almost  sure  it 
was  a  friend  of  my  own." 

"  And  what  was  your  friend's  name,  stranger  ?  if 
I  may  be  so  bold." 

"  You  are  bold  enough,"  said  the  youth.  "  I  am 
not  in  the  habit  of  answering  questions,  unless  I 
know  who  asks  them,  and  why." 

"  I  don't  mean  no  harm,  young  man,"  replied 
Schwartz  ;  "  and  if  you  tell  me  your  friend's  name 
and  your  own  too,  may  be  you  won't  be  sorry  for  it." 

The  stranger  looked  hard  at  Schwartz,  and  in  his 
serious,  earnest,  and  sagacious  countenance  saw 
enough  to  make  him  curious  to  know  what  this 
meant.  He  therefore  replied,  that  his  friend  was 
Lieutenant  Trevor,  late  of  the  United  States  Dra 
goons, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  383 

"Then  I  have  a  notion,"  replied  Schwartz,  "that 
your  name  is  Whiting." 

"  My  name  is  Whiting,"  replied  the  other,  in  grea* 
surprise  ;  "  but  how  should  you  know  it  ?" 

"  I  have  heard  the  Captain  talk  about  you  man^ 
a  time." 

"  The  Captain  !     What  Captain  ?" 

"  Him"  replied  Schwartz,  pointing  toward  the 
distant  party. 

"Him!  And  how  was  he  to  know  any  thing 
about  me  ?" 

"  Just  because  he  is  the  very  man  you  thought  he 
was." 

"  Douglas  !"  exclaimed  Whiting.  "  Trevor ! 
Douglas  Trevor!  Good  God,  what  an  ass  I  have 
been  !  O  Trevor,  my  friend  !  how  earnestly  have  I 
wished  to  know  where  to  find  you !  Had  I  been 
with  you,  this  might  have  been  prevented." 

"May  be  it  is  best  as  it  is,"  said  Schwartz. 
"  The  Captain  did  not  want  for  friends  where  he 
was.  May  be  one  friend  here  will  do  him  more  good 
than  a  hundred  any  where  else.  That  is  what  I  am 
here  for  now." 

"You  are  a  friend  to  Trevor,  then,"  replied  Whit 
ing;  "  perhaps  one  of  his  followers." 

"  You  may  say  that,"  said  Schwartz.  "  Any 
how,  I'm  his  friend." 

"  Then  come  with  me  to  my  lodgings.  You  can 
tell  me  every  thing,  and  we  will  see  what  is  to  be 
done.  Trevor  has  friends  enough  here.  Thank 


384  The  Partisan  Leader. 

God  !    I  saw  him.     But  for  that  we  might  not  have 
found  out  who  he  was  till  it  was  too  late." 

Whiting  now  showed  Schwartz  where  to  bestow 
his  horse,  and  afterwards  conducted  him  to  his  lodg 
ings.  These  were  in  an  obscure  suburb,  humble, 
plain,  and  poorly  fitted  up.  Appearances  showed 
that  the  occupant  spent  most  of  his  time  with  the 
pen,  although  many  of  the  relics  of  his  former  mili 
tary  equipments  were  to  be  seen  about  the  room. 
But  the  dust  on  his  cap,  which  hung  against  the 
wall,  and  the  mould  on  the  belt  and  scabbard  of  his 
sword,  showed  that  these  had  been  long  unused.  In 
truth,  the  escape  of  Douglas  and  his  uncle  had  been 
fatal  to  him  as  a  soldier.  He  had  been  dismissed 
the  army ;  and  now,  as  it  seemed,  earned  a  poor 
livelihood  by  doing  for  small  wages  the  manual 
labor  of  those  offices,  the  salaries  of  which  are 
received  by  men  who  do  nothing  at  all. 

During  their  long  wralk  through  the  streets  of  that 
city  "  so  magnificent  in  distances,"  as  Monsieur 
Serrurier  said  of  it,  and  while  a  hasty  breakfast  was 
preparing  for  Schwartz,  he  gave  Whiting  the  parti 
culars  of  the  late  battle  at  Jones's  Ford  ;  of  Douglas's 
capture,  and  of  his  brother's  death,  and  the  surren 
der  of  the  camp.  As  soon  as  he  had  seen,  his  guest 
provided  for,  the  young  man  left  him  alone.  Going 
out,  he  proceeded  to  the  first  stand  of  coaches,  and 
stepping  into  one  was  driven  to  the  Minister's. 
Here  he  alighted,  showed  a  ticket  to  the  porter, 
entered,  threaded  several  passages,  descended  a  dark 


The  Partisan  Leader.  385 

stair,  and,  going  into  a  small  room  in  the  basement, 
touched  the  spring  of  a  bell.  No  answering  sound 
was  heard ;  but  in  half  an  hour  the  Minister  ap 
peared. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  said  he.  "  Have  you 
heard  that  your  friend  Trevor  is  in  the  power  of  his 
enemies,  and  is  expected  here  to-day?" 

"  I  had  not  heard  it,"  said  "Whiting ;  "  but  I  have 
seen  him.  He  is  here." 

"  Indeed  !    That  is  well.    We  have  the  more  time." 

"  Where  will  he  be  lodged,  and  under  what  cus 
tody?" 

"  In  the  state  prison.  I  am  instructed  to  select 
his  guards  from  among  those  who  are  strangers  to 
his  person,  and  well-affected  to  the  Government." 

"  That  will  be  no  easy  task,  as  it  seems  that  all 
the  troops  of  that  description  have  been  marched 
into  Virginia,  and  that,  except  raw  recruits,  there 
are  none  here  that  it  was  thought  safe  to  trust  on 
that  service." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  the  Minister ;  "  and  therefore 
I  must  select  those  same  raw  recruits.  Think  you 
there  are  many  here  who  could  be  relied  on  to  peril 
every  thing  on  behalf  of  your  friend  ?" 

"  No  doubt  of  it.  I  was  long  enough  in  the  army 
after  his  disgrace  to  know  that  his  whole  regiment 
were  indignant  at  it.  A  hundred  can  be  found 
ready  to  wipe  it  out  with  the  blood  of  the  President, 
or  their  own." 

"  It  is  well.     He  will  be  taken  to  the  palace  this 


386  The  Partisan  Leader. 

night,  under  the  cloud  of  darkness.  Have  all  things 
in  readiness,  and  watch  for  his  return.  You  will 
know  what  to  do.  Did  you  know  those  who  had 
him  in  custody  ?" 

"  I  knew  the  sergeant,  and  he  knew  me." 
"  All  right.  You  then  must  be  charged  with  the 
disappearance  of  Douglas  ;  you  must  therefore  make 
your  escape  with  him.  I  shall,  of  course,  see  you 
no  more.  We  have  no  time  for  compliment ;  but 
you  will  have  my  best  wishes ;  and  the  time  may 
come  when  you  may  have  it  in  your  power  to  do  me 
justice.  My  country  is  to  me,  Mr.  Whiting,  what 
yours  is  to  you.  When  New  England  was  permitted 
to  join  in  what  you  will  call  the  plunder  of  the 
South,  I  was  not  very  scrupulous  about  the  means  of 
securing  her  share.  But  nearly  all  that  was  worth 
having  is  irretrievably  lost.  What  remains  can  only 
be  retained  by  means  which  will  but  make  it  an 
instrument  of  power  in  the  hands  of  this  man,  and  so 
enable  him  to  perpetuate  his  reign  according  to  the 
forms  of  the  constitution.  Take  that  away,  and  leave 
the  matter  altogether  to  the  votes  of  the  northern 
States,  and  I  shall  not  long  have  to  play  second  to 
him.  In  order  to  preserve  his  power,  he  would  be 
compelled  to  break  up  the  system  of  monopoly  con 
trived  for  the  exclusive  benefit  of  his  favorite  Empire 
State ;  or  perhaps  to  concur  with  me  in  severing  a 
Union,  the  benefits  of  which  are  now  lost,  by  the 
escape  of  our  common  prey,  and  of  which  we  bear 
all  the  inconveniences.  Of  course,  I  do  not  pretend 


The  Partisan  Leader.  38, 

that  the  place  to  which  the  favor  of  my  countrymen 
may  advance  me  in  either  event,  has  no  charms  for 
me.  But  you  will  see  that  I  am  actuated  by  no  low 
and  sordid  ambition.  I  am  desirous  you  should  see 
it  in  this  light.  It  is  not  my  fortune  to  command 
the  services  of  many  whose  esteem  is  eminently  desi 
rable.  I  am,  therefore,  the  more  ambitious  of  yours. 
Should  I  succeed,  my  acts  will  vindicate  my  motives. 
Should  I  fail  (and  if  Virginia  disenthrals  herself  I 
shall  not  fail),  you  will  do  me  this  justice.  What 
news  have  you  of  the  movements  of  B ?" 

"  He  is  about  to  take  up  arms,  with  the  probability 
of  assembling  a  force  which,  with  the  concurrence 
of  the  corps  of  Douglas,  will  secure  his  object." 

"  But  is  not  the  band  of  Douglas  dispersed  ?" 

"  By  no  means  ;  but  much  increased.  They  have 
still  their  mountain  leaders,  and  a  young  man  from 
the  South  Carolina  military  school,  who  seems  well 
qualified  to  act,  for  the  time,  as  the  locum  tenens  of 
the  chief." 

"  Then  farewell,  sir,"  said  the  Minister.  "  You 
carry  with  you  my  good  wishes  for  yourself  and 
your  cause,  and  I  pray  you  to  commend  them  to 
Mr.  B ." 

About  the  time  that  these  gentlemen  thus  separated, 
the  President  was  informed  that  a  gentleman  and  lady 
craved  the  favor  of  a  private  audience.  He  directed 
that  they  should  be  shown  into  the  room,  the  privacy 
of  which  we  have  so  often  violated,  and  soon  after  he 
entered  it. 


388  The  Partisan  Leader. 

A  lady,  whose  figure  and  dress  denoted  youth,  was 
seated  on  the  sofa.  She  was  in  deep  mourning,  and 
a  black  veil  completely  hid  her  face.  By  her  side  sat 
a  gentleman  far  advanced  in  life,  and  of  a  most  vene 
rable  aspect.  His  fair  complexion  had  blanched  by 
time  into  the  cold  dead  whiteness  of  age.  The  color 
had,  in  like  manner,  faded  from  his  pale  blue  eye ; 
and  the  quivering  of  his  livid  lip,  and  the  trembling 
of  his  eyelids,  betokened  deep  and  anxious  dis 
tress.  His  dress  also  was  of  black,  mournfully 
contrasting  with  the  almost  unearthly  whiteness  of 
his  face. 

At  the  entrance  of  the  President  both  rose  ;  and 
the  trembling  and  agitated  old  gentleman  might  be 
seen  to  give  way  for  a  moment,  as  if  about  to  throw 
himself  on  his  knees  before  "  the  dreaded  prince  whose 
will  was  fate."  But  he  recovered  himself,  and  with 
an  air  of  suppliant  dignity,  stood  as  erect  as  the  weak 
ness  and  infirmity  of  age  permitted.  The  President 
approached  him  with  a  look  of  perplexity  and  doubt ; 
and,  gazing  earnestly  at  him,  said :  "I  beg  to  know, 
sir,  who  it  is.  Bless  me !  Mr.  Trevor,  is  it  possible 
that  I  see  you  here,  at  this  moment  ?" 

"  I  am  here,  sir,"  replied  the  old  gentleman,  "  a 
broken-hearted,  bereaved  father,  lamenting  the  loss  of 
one  son,  and  suppliant  for  the  life  of  another;  and  this 
is  my  niece,  who  is  come  to  join  her  prayers  to  mine, 
on  behalf  of  her  betrothed  husband." 

There  was  enough  in  these  words  to  add  to  the 
maiden  confusion  of  poor  Delia,  but  not  enough  to 


The  Partisan  Leader.  389 

prevent  her  from  lifting  a  timid  glance,  in  which  there 
was  as  much  of  entreaty  as  her  proud  spirit  could 
descend  to.  She  met  the  eye  of  the  President,  as  with 
an  air  of  quick  and  eager  surprise  he  turned  toward** 
her ;  and  in  his  eye  she  read  a  meaning,  which,  in  the 
moment,  blasted  her  hopes,  and  confirmed  her  in  all 
her  detestation  of  the  cold,  selfish,  and  crafty  politi 
cian,  whom  she  now  beheld  for  the  first  time.  She 
saw,  instantly,  that  she  was  the  object  of  some  subtle 
purpose ;  and  felt,  that  by  putting  herself  in  his 
power,  she  had  but  prepared  for  her  husband  a  deeper 
distress  than  all  the  severities  of  the  law  could  inflict. 
But  she  quailed  not  at  the  thought.  Her  proud  and 
bold  spirit  came  in  aid  of  her  weakness ;  her  pale 
cheek  burnt  with  an  indignant  glow,  and  the  tears  were 
dissipated  from  her  eyes  in  the  bright  and  almost 
fierce  glance  that  flashed  from  them.  Even  through 
her  veil  too  much  of  this  appeared  to  escape  the  notice 
of  the  President. 

He  instantly  turned  away ;  and,  with  an  air  and 
tone  of  the  most  candied  courtesy,  addressed  Mr.  Tre 
vor  :  "  You  speak  in  riddles,  my  dear  sir,"  said  he ; 
"  I  beg  you  to  explain." 

"  My  task  is  more  painful  than  I  had  anticipated," 
said  the  poor  old  man.  "Have  I,  then,  to  be  the 
herald  of  my  poor  Owen's  death,  and  of  the  yet  more 
disastrous  fate  of  my  other  noble  boy  ?" 

"  Col.  Trevor  dead,  sir !"  exclaimed  the  President, 
"  Impossible  !  I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  him, 
written  on  the  12th." 


390  The  Partisan  Leader. 

"  That  day  was  the  last  of  his  life,"  said  the  afflicted 
father.  "  He  fell  next  morning.  I  received  the  news 
yesterday  by  the  railroad  ;  and  Toy  travelling  all  night 
by  the  same  conveyance,  I  am  here  to  entreat  that  the 
axe  may  not  glean  what  the  sword  has  left  me.  My 
poor  boy  Douglas,  I  am  told,  is  in  your  power,  and 
perhaps  here.' 

"  I  had  heard  of  this ;  but  I  assure  you  your  son  is 
not  here.  I  will  not  deny  that  I  expect  him ;  and 
regret  that  it  is  under  circumstances  which  will  not 
allow  me  the  pleasure  of  extending  to  him  the  same 
courtesy  I  shall  be  happy  to  render  to  you.  Compose 
yourself,  my  dear  sir ;  let  me  beg  you  and  your  niece 
to  retire  to  rooms  which  are  always  read}^  to  receive 
you  where  I  am  master ;  and  let  me  send  for  your 
baggage." 

Delia,  who  thought  there  was  something  of  hesi 
tancy  in  her  uncle's  mind,  instantly  exclaimed :  "  ISTo, 
my  uncle !  No,  my  father !  The  palace  of  a  tyrant 
is  a  prison.  There  is  no  mercy  here.  No  hope  for 
my  noble  husband.  Save  yourself.  Return  home 
while  you  may,  and  leave  me  here  to  share  his  fate. 
Our  friends  may  rescue  us.  They  WILL  avenge  us. 
But  in  that  cold  eye  there  is  no  relenting." 

"  You  are  harsh,  lady,"  said  the  President ;  "  I 
will  not  add,  unjust.  I  will  prove  that,  by  permitting 
your  instant  departure,  without  even  inquiring  where 
you  lodge." 

He  now  bowed  them  out,  and  immediately  summon 
ing  a  servant,  said :  "  Take  the  number  of  that  coach, 


The  Partisan  Leader.  391 

and  let  the  driver  attend  me  this  evening."  Then,  as 
the  servant  left  the  room,  he  went  on:  "Why,  this  is 
better  and  better.  I  think  I  have  holds  enough  now 
on  Baker  to  bind  him  to  his  task,  however  his  heart 
may  yearn  after  his  beggarly  estate  in  Virginia.  It 
seems,  forsooth,  that  after  all  that  has  passed,  his  son 
yet  has  a  hankering  after  this  girl ;  the  only  woman, 
as  he  says,  that  he  ever  truly  loved.  It  may  be  but 
spite  against  his  favored  rival ;  or  it  may  be,  in  truth, 
that  every  thing  that  bears  the  shape  of  man  is  sus 
ceptible  of  love,  or  what  passes  for  it.  Be  it  so.  He 
may  be  gratified;  but  his  father  shall  fulfil  conditions." 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day  the  following  letter 
was  put  into  the  hands  of  the  President : 

"Your  captive  has  arrived.  Beware  how  you 
remand  him  to  his  prison,  when  you  dismiss  him  to 
night.  Order  him  to  be  confined  within  the  palace ; 
and  when  you  give  the  order,  mark  well  its  effect  on 
him  you  most  trust.  CAUTION." 

"  Why,  here  is  proof  as  well  as  accusation,"  said 
the  President.  "  Here  is  treason.  How  else  is  it  known 
that  Trevor  was  to  be  brought  here  to-night?  I  will 
improve  this  hint.  A  rescue  is  to  be  attempted  I  Is 
that  it  ?  Then  the  guard  will  be  attacked  on  their 
return  without  the  prisoner.  Woe  to  the  traitor  if  it 

prove  so !" 

******* 

1  have  been  interrupted  in  my  narrative.  I  have 
hesitated  whether  to  give  this  fragment  to  the  public, 
until  I  have  leisure  to  complete  my  history.  On 


392  The  Partisan  Leader. 

farther  reflection,  I  have  determined  to  do  so.  Let :« 
go  forth  as  the  first  Bulletin  of  that  gallant  contest,  u 
which  Virginia  achieved  her  independence  ;  lifted  the 
soiled  banner  of  her  sovereignty  from  the  dust,  ana 
once  more  vindicated  her  proud  motto,  which  graces 
my  title  page, — sic  SEMPER  TYKANNIS  !  AMEN.  So 

MOTE  IT  BE. 


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From  the  French  of  M.  Michelet,  translated  by  Dr.  J.  W. 
Palmer.  I2mo.  muslin,  $1.00  (in  press). 

WOMEN  OF  THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION. 

From  the  French  of  M.  Michelet,  translated  by  Dr.  J.  W. 
Palmer,  izmo.  muslin,  $1.00  (in press). 

THE  MORAL  j&STORY  OF  WOMEN. 

An  Offset  to  "L'Amour,"  translated  from  the  French  of 
Ernest  Legouve  by  Dr.  Palmer,      izmo.  muslin,  $1.00. 
VICTOIRE. 

A  new  American  novel,      izmo.  muslin,  $1.25  (in press). 

THE  CULPRIT  FA  Y. 

A  faery  poem  by  Joseph  Rodman  Drake.  Elegantly 
printed  on  tinted  paper.  i2mo.  muslin,  50  cts. 

DOCTOR  ANTONIO. 

A  Tale  of  Italy.  By  G.  Ruffini,  author  of  "  Lorenzo 
Benoni,"  &c.  I2mo.  muslin,  $1.25. 

LA  VINIA. 

A  new  novel  of  Italian  Life,   by  G.  Ruffini ;    author  of 
"Doctor  Antonio,"  &c.      I2mo.  muslin,  $1.25. 
DEAR  EXPERIENCE. 

A  novel  by  G.  Ruffini;  author  of  "Doctor  Antonio,"  &c. 
1 2mo.  muslin,  illustrated,  $  i  .00. 

BEATRICE  CENCI. 

A  novel,  translated  from  the  Italian  of  F.  D.  Guerrazzi, 
by  Luigi  Monti  of  Harvard  College,  izmo.  muslin,  $1.25. 

ISABELLA    ORS1N1. 

An  Historical  novel,  translated  from  the  Italian  of  Guer 
rtx/.i,  author  of  "Beatrice  C'enci."  I2mo.  muslin,  $1.25. 


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